Nanocomposite of LiFePO4 and mesoporous carbon prepared by microwave heating for rechargeable lithium batteries

Abstract

A nanocomposite of LiFePO4 and mesoporous carbon was synthesized from MgO-templated mesoporous carbon by microwave heating for use as a cathode material in rechargeable Li batteries. Our research group reported a composition method using a porous template in the a previous paper.[1] Despite its low carbon content, the present composite shows better electrochemical performance than our previously reported version. The LiFePO4 nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed in the template because of the suppressed growth of LiFePO4 crystals in the template pores and small thermal gradient resulting from microwave heating. The three-dimensional conducting carbon network between the LiFePO4 nanoparticles led to excellent cycling stability and rate capability. No decrease in discharge capacity was observed up to 100 cycles, and 85% of the reversible capacity at a Crate of 0.1 was retained at a C-rate of 30.