Coulombic efficiency Counter-electrodes

First of all, it is important to pay attention to the fact that most of the available literature data describes the behavior of a carbon working electrode against a laboratory counter- electrode which is normally metallic lithium. This counter-electrode is normally oversized and acts therefore as a nearly infinite source (and sink) of lithium ions. If the coulombic efficiency during cycling of the carbon electrode is less than 100% (e.g., due to side reactions, trapping of lithium in the carbon,... 

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