Graphene-encapsulated LiFePO4 nanoparticles with high electrochemical performance for lithium ion batteries

Graphene-encapsulated LiFePO4 nanospheres have been developed by a solid state reaction using the graphene oxide-encapsulated FeOOH as raw materials. The LiFePO4 nanospheres with an average diameter of similar to 20 nm were wrapped tightly with a 3D graphene network. Such a special nanostructure facilitated the electron and lithium ion migration to provide good electrochemical performance, especially at high current rates. This graphene-encapsulated LiFePO4 material could deliver discharge capacities of 166.6, 108.6 and 90.6 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C, 5 C and 10 C respectively and showed a capacity decay of <9% when cycled 5 C and 10 C charge/discharge for 300 times. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.