Abstract
Graphite is a critical mineral that plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable innovations in the automotive sector and the adaptation of vehicle electrification. Graphite can be sourced naturally through mining or manufactured synthetically from carbon-rich precursors. Carbon black (CB) is particularly viable for graphite production. In this study, recovered carbon black from end-of-life mining tires and virgin (petrochemical) N660 carbon black were partially graphitized via thermal treatment. Following graphitization, both materials were used as additives in lithium titanate oxide (LTO) anodes for battery cells. To assess the effectiveness of these additives, a series of electrochemical tests was carried out on Li-ion coin cells. The charge stability, rate and capacity were evaluated, and the results revealed that both CBs could be used as additives in commercial lithium-ion batteries.