Reaction mechanism and electrochemical performance of LiFePO4/C cathode materials synthesized by carbothermal method

Spray-Drying of Electrode Materials for Lithium- and Sodium-Ion Batteries

The performance of electrode materials in lithium-ion (Li-ion), sodium-ion (Na-ion) and related batteries depends not only on their chemical composition but also on their microstructure. The choice of a synthesis method is therefore of paramount importance. Amongst the wide variety of synthesis or shaping routes reported for an ever-increasing panel of compositions, spray-drying stands out as a versatile tool offering demonstrated potential for up-scaling to industrial quantities. In this review, we provide an overview of the rapidly increasing literature including both spray-drying of solutions and spray-drying of suspensions. We focus, in particular, on the chemical aspects of the formulation of the solution/suspension to be spray-dried. We also consider the post-processing of the spray-dried precursors and the resulting morphologies of granules. The review references more than 300 publications in tables where entries are listed based on final compound composition, starting materials, sources of carbon etc.

Structural and Morphological Tuning of LiCoPO₄ Materials Synthesized by Solvo-Thermal Methods for Li-Cell Applications

Olivine-type lithium metal phosphates (LiMPO₄) are promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. LiFePO₄ (LFP) is commonly used in commercial Li-ion cells but the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ couple can be usefully substituted with Mn³⁺/Mn²⁺, Co³⁺/Co²⁺, or Ni³⁺/Ni²⁺, in order to obtain higher redox potentials. In this communication we report a systematic analysis of the synthesis condition of LiCoPO₄ (LCP) using a solvo-thermal route at low temperature, the latter being a valuable candidate to overcome the theoretical performances of LFP. In fact, LCP shows higher working potential (4.8 V vs. 3.6 V) compared to LFP and similar theoretical capacity (167 mAh·g⁻¹). Our goal is to show the effect of the synthesis condition of the ability of LCP to reversibly cycle lithium in electrochemical cells. LCP samples have been prepared through a solvo-thermal method in aqueous-non aqueous solvent blends. Different Co²⁺ salts have been used to study the effect of the anion on the crystal growth as well as the effect of solution acidity, temperature and reaction time. Materials properties have been characterized by Fast-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopies. The correlation between structure/morphology and electrochemical performances has been investigated by galvanostatic charge-discharge cycles.

LiFePO4 nanoparticles growth with preferential (010) face modulated by Tween-80

Adding Tween-80 as surfactant in hydrothermal synthesis can successfully reduce grain size and adjust crystal orientation of LiFePO₄.

Mesoporous carbon-coated LiFePO4 nanocrystals co-modified with graphene and Mg2+ doping as superior cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

In this work, mesoporous carbon-coated LiFePO4 nanocrystals further co-modified with graphene and Mg(2+) doping (G/LFMP) were synthesized by a modified rheological phase method to improve the speed of lithium storage as well as cycling stability. The mesoporous structure of LiFePO4 nanocrystals was designed and realized by introducing the bead milling technique, which assisted in forming sucrose-pyrolytic carbon nanoparticles as the template for generating mesopores. For comparison purposes, samples modified only with graphene (G/LFP) or Mg(2+) doping (LFMP) as well as pure LiFePO4 (LFP) were also prepared and investigated. Microscopic observation and nitrogen sorption analysis have revealed the mesoporous morphologies of the as-prepared composites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement data demonstrated that the Mg-doped LiFePO4 is a single olivine-type phase and well crystallized with shortened Fe-O and P-O bonds and a lengthened Li-O bond, resulting in an enhanced Li(+) diffusion velocity. Electrochemical properties have also been investigated after assembling coin cells with the as-prepared composites as the cathode active materials. Remarkably, the G/LFMP composite has exhibited the best electrochemical properties, including fast lithium storage performance and excellent cycle stability. That is because the modification of graphene provided active sites for nuclei, restricted the in situ crystallite growth, increased the electronic conductivity and reduced the interface reaction current density, while, Mg(2+) doping improved the intrinsically electronic and ionic transfer properties of LFP crystals. Moreover, in the G/LFMP composite, the graphene component plays the role of "cushion" as it could quickly realize capacity response, buffering the impact to LFMP under the conditions of high-rate charging or discharging, which results in a pre-eminent rate capability and cycling stability.

Mechanism studies of LiFePO4cathode material: lithiation/delithiation process, electrochemical modification and synthetic reaction

Olivine-structured lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO₄) is one of the most competitive candidates for fabricating energy-driven cathode material for sustainable lithium ion battery (LIB) systems.

Controlled synthesis of double-wall a-FePO4 nanotubes and their LIB cathode properties

Double-wall amorphous FePO4 nanotubes are prepared by an oil-phase chemical route. The inward diffusion of vacancies and outward diffusion of ions through passivation layers result in double-wall nanotubes with thin walls. Such a process can be extended to prepare hollow polydedral nanocrystals and hollow ellipsoids. The double-wall FePO4 nanotubes show interesting cathode performance in Li ion batteries.