Patent ID: 8318355

Claim:
A composite of particles comprising a high crystallinity carbon and a low crystallinity carbon, the composite being obtained by a process comprising: dispersing and mixing the high crystallinity carbon in a polymeric substance form a mix; and subjecting the mix to a heat treatment at a temperature of at least 1200° C. to form a composite with high crystallinity carbon embedded within or surrounded by a matrix of polymer derived low crystallinity carbon; wherein: the low crystallinity carbon exhibits an average lattice constant d=(002) of 0.350 nm or more and a crystallite size L=(002) in the diffraction of C axis of 25 nm or less, as characterized by wide-angle X ray diffraction measurements; the high crystallinity carbon exhibits an average lattice constant d=(002) of 0.338 nm or less and a crystallinity size L=(002) in the diffraction of C axis of 40 nm or more, as characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurements; the high crystallinity carbon having at least 50% of its external surface embedded within or surrounded by a matrix of low crystallinity carbon; and the high crystallinity carbon forms particles having a particle size ranging from 1 to 50 micrometers, the high crystallinity carbon particles being at least partially covered by particles of low crystallinity carbon having a particle size ranging from 10 to 500 nm, the low crystallinity carbon particles being attached to the surface of the high crystallinity carbon particles.