This graphite result works because it is ordinary in the right way. The supplied chart reports 346.69 mAh/g and 95.06% first-cycle efficiency at 7.2 mg/cm2 loading in a lithium-metal 2320 coin cell. That is exactly the sort of baseline anode dataset that researchers need when they are trying to understand whether a later full cell is losing energy because of the anode, the cathode, or the way the two sides were balanced. Graphite is the benchmark because the benchmark has to be boring enough to trust.
What the Graphite Curve Actually Shows
The profile sits in the low-voltage region expected for graphite and follows a shape that is technically consistent with reversible lithium storage. The reported capacity sits in the practical graphite range rather than in an exaggerated laboratory number, which makes the dataset useful as a design reference. At the same time, the 95.06% first-cycle efficiency is a reminder that the first cycle is not free: a small but meaningful amount of lithium is still consumed by formation and interphase growth.
| Parameter | Reported condition or result |
|---|---|
| Sample | Gr-S01 graphite anode |
| Cell format | 2320 coin cell, lithium-metal half cell |
| Counter electrode | Lithium metal |
| Electrolyte | Carbonate-based electrolyte |
| Voltage range | 0.01-2.0 V |
| Charge / discharge rate | 0.1C / 0.1C |
| Test temperature | 25 +/- 1 C |
| Reported specific capacity | 346.69 mAh/g |
| Reported first-cycle efficiency | 95.06% |
| Electrode loading | 7.2 mg/cm2 |
Why the Loading Matters
The 7.2 mg/cm2 loading puts this result beyond the most trivial proof-of-concept regime. That is important because graphite can look very good when the coating is thin and the electrolyte access is easy. A more realistic loading tells us more about electrode wetting, stack pressure, and the extent to which the anode can keep its reversible capacity once it is asked to behave like a real component. Using the loading to calculate areal capacity gives about 2.50 mAh/cm2, which is a far more useful number for matching than the gravimetric capacity by itself.
That areal number is where the full-cell conversation begins. A cathode with an awkwardly mismatched areal capacity can make a good graphite result look worse than it is. Conversely, a well-matched cathode can make the same graphite look like a much stronger platform. So this page should be read as a measured baseline, not a final verdict on a battery design.
What the Result Supports
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the capacity in the practical graphite range? | Yes. 346.69 mAh/g is close to the expected graphite baseline and therefore useful for real anode screening. |
| How much initial loss is still left to budget? | About 4.94% first-cycle loss still has to be covered by the full-cell design. |
| What is the practical areal capacity? | About 2.50 mAh/cm2 is a useful number for matching to cathode areal capacity. |
| Does the half cell already prove full-cell readiness? | No. It is a solid benchmark, but it still needs pairing, formation, and cycle-life validation. |
For a follow-up, compare this data against a real graphite anode sheet and then keep the same collector, loading basis, electrolyte, and test protocol when repeating the cell. If the work is headed toward a custom build, a customized electrode-sheet request should specify the target loading, coating side, collector, and matching cathode rather than only asking for graphite by name.
Next Validation Step
The next experiment should pair the graphite anode with a measured cathode, then add rate capability, longer cycling, and impedance tracking. Use battery test equipment and instruments that can preserve the same 2.0 V lower cut-off, current profile, rest steps, and export rules across the comparison set. A Battery Research hub is the natural navigation route when the project moves from a single half-cell to a broader validation workflow.
Once the anode and cathode capacities are both known, the project can move into a lithium-ion dry pouch-cell platform or another paired format. That step only makes sense after the N/P target, electrode density, electrolyte amount, and formation protocol are defined together, because the graphite figure on its own cannot answer those system questions.
Publication Boundary
This article should be published as a technical interpretation of the supplied graphite half-cell curve. It may state the loading, capacity, efficiency, voltage range, rate, temperature, and electrolyte description. It should not claim full-cell readiness, cycle life, or long-term stability without more evidence. For a comparable graphite anode or test plan, specify the loading basis, coating process, current collector, anode chemistry, N/P target, electrolyte, and validation objective.