LifePo₄ Coated Homogeneously with 3D Carbon Nanotube Conductive Networks for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance.

Abstract

LiFePO₄ (LFP) microparticles coated homogeneously with three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotube (CNT) conductive networks were successfully prepared via a simple and effective ball milling method by controlling Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) content in cathode electrode slurry. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the electrical bridge between the LFP could be well modulated by varying the amount of the CNTs and PVDF. The LFP/CNTs composite with 3 wt% CNTs and 5 wt% PVDF, in which CNTs are embedded in the microspheres homogeneously, possesses the best 3D CNT conductive networks and exhibits the best electrochemical property with high capacity retention of 95.72% at 0.25 C after 50 cycles. Essentially, in comparison with those samples without CNT networks, this CNT network structure can greatly enhance the electrical conductivity, thus markedly improving the electrochemical performance. (LFP) microparticles coated homogeneously with three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotube (CNT) conductive networks were successfully prepared via a simple and effective ball milling method by controlling Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) content in cathode electrode slurry. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the electrical bridge between the LFP could be well modulated by varying the amount of the CNTs and PVDF. The LFP/CNTs composite with 3 wt% CNTs and 5 wt% PVDF, in which CNTs are embedded in the microspheres homogeneously, possesses the best 3D CNT conductive networks and exhibits the best electrochemical property with high capacity retention of 95.72% at 0.25 C after 50 cycles. Essentially, in comparison with those samples without CNT networks, this CNT network structure can greatly enhance the electrical conductivity, thus markedly improving the electrochemical performance.