Electrochemical properties of LiFePO 4 prepared via hydrothermal route

Abstract

LiFePO 4 as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries was prepared by hydrothermal process at 170 °C under inert atmosphere. The starting materials were LiOH, FeSO 4, and (NH 4) 2HPO 4. The particle size of the obtained LiFePO 4 was 0.5 μm. The electrochemical properties of LiFePO 4 were characterized in a mixed solvent of ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate (1:1 in volume) containing 1.0 mol dm −3 LiClO 4. The hydrothermally synthesized LiFePO 4 exhibited a discharge capacity of 130 mA h g −1, which was smaller than theoretical capacity (170 mA h g −1). The annealing of LiFePO 4 at 400 °C in argon atmosphere was effective in increasing the discharge capacity. The discharge capacity of the annealed LiFePO 4 was 150 mA h g −1.