Artificial graphite particles and method for manufacturing same, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell negative electrode and method for manufacturing same, and lithium secondary cell

1. A method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles having a layer structure with a polyhedral edge portion, the method comprising:

(a) providing raw material graphite particles having a secondary particle structure in which a plurality of primary particles composed of graphite are bonded together, and the primary particles within the secondary particles have planes of orientation that are not parallel to each other; and

(b) grinding the raw material particles by passing the raw material graphite particles through an adjustable gap between two members, wherein each of the two members defines a plane, wherein the planes face one another and wherein one or both of the two members rotates relative to the other of the two members.

2. The method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles according to claim 1 , wherein the two members are a fixed member and a rotating rotary member disposed below the fixed member, wherein the raw material graphite particles are passed through a feed port disposed in the fixed member provided at a location corresponding to a rotational center of the rotating rotary member, and made to pass through the adjustable gap between the fixed member and the rotating rotary member.

3. The method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles according to claim 1 , wherein the grinding treatment is a dry process.

4. The method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles according to claim 1 , wherein the two members rotate in opposite directions.

5. The method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles according to claim 1 , wherein the raw material graphite particles have an average particle size of 100 μm or less, and wherein the size of the gap between the two members is 0.5 to 20 times the average particle size of the raw material graphite particles.

6. The method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles according to claim 1 , wherein the raw material graphite particles are massive artificial graphite particles.

7. A method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles having a layer structure with a polyhedral edge, the method comprising:

(a) providing raw material graphite particles having a secondary particle structure in which a plurality of primary particles composed of graphite are bonded together, and the primary particles within the secondary particles have planes of orientation that are not parallel to each other;

(b) grinding the raw material graphite particles by passing the raw material graphite particles through an adjustable gap between two members, wherein each of the two members defines a plane, wherein the planes face one another, and wherein one or both of the two members rotates relative to the other of the two members; and

(c) obtaining artificial graphite particles, wherein the artificial graphite particles have a layer structure with a polyhedral edge portion.

8. The method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles according to claim 7 , wherein an aspect ratio of the primary particles is 5 or less.

9. The method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles according to claim 1 , wherein the raw material graphite particles have a structure in which a plurality of flat graphite particles are bonded together in a non-parallel manner, and wherein an aspect ratio of the raw material graphite particles is 5 or less, and the raw material graphite particles have voids.

10. The method for manufacturing artificial graphite particles according to claim 1 , wherein the raw material graphite particles have an average particle size of 10 to 50 μm, wherein the size of the gap between the two members is 0.5 to 20 times the average particle size of the raw material graphite particles.