Anode particles including discarded graphite particles, and methods of producing the same

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to anode particles produced in part from discarded graphite particles, and methods of producing the same. In some aspects, a method of forming carbon-coated anode particles can include mixing a first plurality of particles, a second plurality of particles, and a plurality of graphene particles to form a dry powder, the first plurality of graphite particles including particles rejected from a graphite spheronization process, the second plurality of graphite particles including particles rejected from a graphite micronization process, mixing the dry powder with water and a carbon-containing liquid to form a slurry, spray-drying the slurry to form an agglomerated mix, and heating the agglomerated mix to form carbon-coated anode particles. In some embodiments, the spray-drying includes atomizing the slurry to form droplets. In some embodiments, the spray-drying can include heating the droplets in a heated chamber to form dried particles.