Negative active material for rechargeable lithium battery, method of preparing the same, and rechargeable lithium battery comprising the same

1. A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery comprising composite particles,

wherein the composite particles comprise:

an amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon matrix; and

crystalline graphite powder particles having an average particle diameter of 0.2 to 3 μm dispersed in the matrix,

wherein the composite particles have an average particle diameter ranging from 4 to 40 μm;

wherein the crystalline graphite powder particles are earthy graphite.

2. The negative active materials of claim 1 , which further comprises a coating layer comprising amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon on the surface of the composite particles.

3. The negative active material of claim 2 , wherein the coating layer is 0.01 to 5 μm thick.

4. The negative active materials of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline graphite powder particles have a ratio (I 1360 /I 1580 ) of 1360 cm −1 of peak intensity (I 1360 ) against 1580 cm −1 of peak intensity (I 1580 ) of 0.1 to 0.5 in a Raman spectrum.

5. The negative active materials of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline graphite powder particles have a ratio (I 1360 /I 1580 ) of 1360 cm −1 of peak intensity (I 1360 ) against 1580 cm −1 of peak intensity (I 1580 ) of 0.1 to 0.3 in a Raman spectrum.

6. The negative active material of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon is formed from an amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon precursor selected from the group consisting of a hard carbon source material of sucrose, a phenol resin, a naphthalene resin, a polyvinylalcohol resin, a furfuryl alcohol resin, a polyacrylonitrile resin, a polyamide resin, a furan resin, a cellulose resin, a styrene resin, a polyimide resin, an epoxy resin, or a vinyl chloride resin; and a soft carbon source material of coal pitch, petroleum pitch, polyvinylchloride, mesophase pitch, tar, or low molecular weight heavy oil.

7. The negative active material of claim 1 , wherein the composite particles comprise the amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon and the crystalline graphite powder particle in a mass ratio ranging from 0.5:9.5 to 4:6.

8. A method of preparing a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, comprising:

preparing crystalline graphite powder particles having an average particle diameter of 0.2 to 3 μm by separating or pulverizing earthy graphite;

preparing a mixture by mixing the crystalline graphite powder particles and an amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon precursor;

preparing composite particles having an average particle diameter of 4 to 40 μm by assembling the mixture; and

heat-treating the composite particles to carbonize the amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon precursor.

9. A negative electrode comprising the negative active material of claim 1 .

10. A rechargeable lithium battery comprising:

a positive electrode comprising a positive active material that can intercalate and deintercalate lithium ions;

a negative electrode comprising a negative active material of claim 1 ; and

an electrolyte.

11. The method of claim 8 , which further comprises coating the composite particles prepared by carbonizing an amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon precursor using an amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon precursor.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the amorphous or semi-crystalline carbon precursor is selected from the group consisting of a hard carbon source material of a phenol resin, a naphthalene resin, a polyvinyl alcohol resin, a polyamide resin, a furan resin, an epoxy resin, or a vinyl chloride resin; and a soft carbon source material of coal pitch, petroleum pitch, tar, or low molecular weight heavy oil.

13. A method of claim 8 , wherein the heat treatment is performed at 900 to 3000° C.