Kinetic behavior of LiFeMgPO 4 cathode material for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

LiFe 0.9Mg 0.1PO 4 material was prepared by mechanical milling method, followed by heat treatment. The equilibrium potential-composition isotherm of LiFe 0.9Mg 0.1PO 4 and charge–discharge kinetics of LiFe 0.9Mg 0.1PO 4 were measured using galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), potential-step chronoamperometry (PSCA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The rate performance of the cathode is controlled by the charge-transfer kinetics, electronic conductivity, Li-ion diffusion capability, and phase transformation rate. Since LiFe 0.9Mg 0.1PO 4 has a fast charge-transfer reaction and high electronic and ionic diffusivity, the phase transformation between LiFe 0.9Mg 0.1PO 4 and Li 0.1Fe 0.9Mg 0.1PO 4 begins to play a more important role in the charge–discharge process, as is evident by an inductive loop induced by the phase transformation in the low frequency region of EIS. The phase purity and morphology of LiFe 0.9Mg 0.1PO 4 were also observed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).