One-Pot Pyro-Synthesis of a High Energy Density LiFePO4-Li3V2(PO4)3 Nanocomposite Cathode

Abstract

Highly crystalline carbon-coated 0.66LiFePO4•0.33Li3V2(PO4)3(LFP-LVP) nanocomposite was synthesized by a one-pot pyro-synthetic strategy by a polyol medium at low temperature. In this article, electron microscopy delivered the as-synthesized composite consisting of spherical particles with average diameters in the range of 30–60 nm. Following heat treatment, a crystal growth phenomenon and particle aggregation was observed at 800 °C, thus resulting in an increase in the average particle size to 200– 300 nm. Testing for a lithium-ion cell, the nanocomposite electrode provided good electrochemical properties with higher operating potentials hence enhanced energy densities and excellent rate capacity. Corresponding to an energy density of 46.88 Wh Kg−1 at 6.4 C, the composite cathode showed a high reversible capacity of 156 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and exhibited a remarkable reversible capacity of 119 mAh g−1. Moreover, when cycling was performed at 6.4 C, the electrode can recover up to 85% of the capacity at low current density of 0.1 C. As a result, the enhanced performance was attributed to the inclusion of the high potential LVP phase constituent in the present cathode using a simple one-pot polyol-assisted pyro strategy.