Enhancement of LiFePO4 (LFP) electrochemical performance through the insertion of coconut shell-derived rGO-like carbon as cathode of Li-ion battery

An old coconut shell as a green biomass was known as a potential carbon materials for rGO and cost effectiveness. The objective of this study is synthesizing an rGO-like carbon (C) compound from coconut shells and inserting into LiFePO4 (LFP), as Li-ion battery cathode. Thus, an LFP/rGO nanocomposite was successfully fabricated using an unconventional approach which is the combination of the sol-gel technique and mechanical ultracentrifugation. LiFePO4 precursors were prepared from commercial starting materials, using the sol-gel technique, and the composites' carbon weight content was varied between 15 and 30%. This process was subsequently followed by evaluating the microstructural characteristics and electrochemical properties as cathode for the Li-ion batteries. The results showed a high tendency of achieving maximum efficiency with merged LFP and rGO, although LFP molecules appear scattered but are firmly attached to each rGO structure, acting as a bridge between the surrounding particles. This reduced graphene oxide (rGO) link is relatively effective in limiting LFP grain growth as well as expanding the surface area, leading to a declined Li-ion diffusion rate. Consequently, the bridge presence also demonstrated a significant effect by enhancing the conductivity, electrical capacity, and performance of the LFP/rGO cycle than pure LFP. Furthermore, the percentage ratio of the synthesized LFP/rGO cathode (85:15) attained higher cycle capacity, compared to 70:30 on the level of 0.1 C, with specific discharging average of 128.03 mAhg(-1) and retention capacity of 97.75% after 50 cycles, at room temperature and a rate of 0.1 C.

Automated summary

A carbon compound similar to rGO was successfully synthesized from coconut shells and inserted into LiFePO4, forming an LFP/rGO nanocomposite using an unconventional approach combining the sol-gel technique and mechanical ultracentrifugation. The synthesized LFP/rGO cathode with a ratio of 85:15 showed higher cycle capacity at the level of 0.1 C.