Controllable synthesis of LiFePO4 microrods and its superior electrochemical performance

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cathode materials with microparticles (MPs) and microrods (MRs) for lithium-ion battery were synthesized through a hydrothermal process. The influence of controllable and uncontrollable growth of LiFePO4 (LFP) particles and its impact on microstructural, thermal, mechanical and electrochemical properties were discussed. Free-standing LiFePO4/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite electrodes were prepared using a tape-casting technique and used for mechanical and electrochemical analysis. LFP-MR/MWCNT composite electrode exhibited a high specific capacity (similar to 192 mAh/g at 0.1 C) beyond the theoretical specific capacity of LiFePO4 (similar to 170 mAh/g at 1 C). Further, to evaluate the failure mode of battery, LFP-MR/MWCNTs composite electrode has been tested electrochemically up to 600 cycles at 10 C rate. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cathode materials were synthesized using a hydrothermal process, and the influence of particle growth on microstructural, thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical properties was discussed. Free-standing LiFePO4/MWCNT composite electrodes prepared using tape-casting technique exhibited high specific capacity and long cycle life.