Porous nest-like LiMnPO4 microstructures assembled by nanosheets for lithium ion battery cathodes

Abstract

Porous, nest-like LiMnPO4 microstructures self-assembled with nanosheets in thickness of ca. 30 nm were synthesized by a facile solvothermal approach in the water–ethanol (1:1, v/v) medium. Citric acid was used as structural modifier to fabricate the micro/nano-architectures. The formation process of the nest-like LiMnPO4 microstructures was demonstrated by the time-dependent experiments. Moreover, the chemical vapor deposition technique was performed to cover the LiMnPO4 nanosheets with a thin carbon layer using toluene as the carbon source. Due to the unique hierarchical microstructure and integrated carbon coating layer, the micro/nanostructured LiMnPO4/C displays high discharge capacities of 158 and 137 mAh g− 1 at 0.5 and 5C rates, respectively, along with good cyclability at 25 and 50 °C.