Integrated Charge Transfer in Li3V2(PO4)3/C for High-Power Li-Ion Batteries

To improve the charge transfer kinetics in monoclinic Li3V2(PO4)(3) (LVP), LVP nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 100 to 200 nm that were completely encapsulated in amorphous carbon networks (LVP/C) are synthesized by a facile sol-gel method using two carbon sources of citric acid and span80 (C24H44O6). Span80, possessing strongly hydrophilic functional groups, is essential for the formation of the three-dimensional conductive carbon matrix. When applied as the cathode for Li-ion batteries, LVP/C nanocomposite displays an excellent cycling stability and rate capability, e.g., delivering the capacity of 85 mAh g(-1) at the high rate of 30 C.