Journal of Central South University

, Volume 22, Issue 12, pp 4507–4514 | Cite as

Effect of different carbon precursors on properties of LiFePO4/C

  • Zheng-wei Xiao (肖政伟)
  • Ying-jie Zhang (张英杰)
  • Guo-rong Hu (胡国荣)
Article
  • 104 Downloads

Abstract

The anoxic decomposition and influence of carbon precursors on the properties of LiFePO4/C prepared by using Fe2O3 were investigated. X-ray powder diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and carbon content and charge–discharge tests were applied to the characterization of the as-synthesized cathodes. Partial carbon is lost in the anaerobic decomposition of organic precursors and a high hydrogen content leads to a high residual carbon rate. Pyromellitic anhydride and citric acid participate in reactions before and in ball-milling. All the chosen carbon precursors are capable of producing LiFePO4 with high degree of crystallinity and purity. The carbon derived from α-D-glucose, pyromellitic anhydride, soluble starch, citric acid and polyacrylamide has a loose and porous texture in LiFePO4/C which forms conduction on and between LiFePO4 particles. LiFePO4/C prepared by using α-D-glucose, pyromellitic anhydride, citric acid and sucrose exhibits appreciable electrochemical performance. Graphite alone is able to enhance the electrochemical performance of LiFePO4 to a limited extent but incapable of preparing practical cathode.

Key words

LiFePO4 lithium ion cell carbon precursor decomposition charge–discharge test graphite 

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. [1]
    PADHI A K, NANJUNDASWAMY K S, MASQUELIER C, OKADA S, GOODENOUGH J B. Effect of structure on the Fe3+/ Fe2+ redox couple in iron phosphates [J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1997, 144(5): 1609–1613.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. [2]
    PADHI A K, NANJUNDASWAMY K S, GOODENOUGH J B. Phospho-olivines as positive-electrode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries [J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1997, 144(4): 1188–1194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. [3]
    BAI P, COGSWELL D A, BAZANT M Z. Suppression of phase separation in LiFePO4 nanoparticles during battery discharge [J]. Nano Letters, 2011, 11(11): 4890–4896.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. [4]
    BILECKA I, HINTENNACH A, ROSSELL M D, XIE D, NOVAKB P, NIEDERBERGER M. Microwave-assisted solution synthesis of doped LiFePO4 with high specific charge and outstanding cycling performance [J]. Journal of Material Chemistry, 2011, 21(16): 5881–5890.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. [5]
    SUN B, WANG Y, WANG B, KIM H S, KIM W S, WANG G. Porous LiFePO4/C microspheres as high-power cathode materials for lithium ion batteries [J]. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2013, 13(5): 3655–3659.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. [6]
    THACKERAY M. An unexpected conductor [J]. Nature Materials, 2002, 1(2): 81–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. [7]
    WANG J, SUN X. Understanding and recent development of carbon coating on LiFePO4 cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries [J]. Energy and Environmental Science, 2012, 5(1): 5163–5185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. [8]
    YU S, CHUNG Y, SONG M S, NAM J H, CHO W I. Investigation of design parameter effects on high current performance of lithium-ion cells with LiFePO4/graphite electrodes [J]. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2012, 42(6): 443–453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. [9]
    XIAO Zheng-wei, HU Guo-rong. A novel synthesis of LiFePO4/C from Fe2O3 without extra carbon or carbon-containing reductant [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2014, 21(6): 2143–2149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. [10]
    FISHER C A J, PRIETO V M H, ISLAM M S. Lithium battery materials LiMPO4 (M=Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni): Insights into defect association, transport mechanisms, and doping behavior [J]. Chemistry of Materials, 2008, 20(18): 5907–5915.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. [11]
    HERLE P S, ELLIS B, COOMBS N, NAZAR L F. Nano-network electronic conduction in iron and nickel olivine phosphates [J]. Nature Materials, 2004, 3(3): 147–152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. [12]
    CHUNG S Y, BLOKING J, CHIANG Y M. Electronically conductive phospho-olivines as lithium storage electrode [J]. Nature Materials, 2002, 1(2): 123–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. [13]
    WAGEMAKER M, ELLIS B L, LUTZENKIRCHEN-HECHT D, MULDER F M, NAZAR L F. Proof of supervalent doping in olivine LiFePO4 [J]. Chemistry of Materials, 2008, 20(20): 6313–6315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. [14]
    XIAO Zheng-wei, HU Guo-rong, DU Ke, PENG Zhong-dong. A facile route for synthesis of LiFePO4/C cathode material with nano-sized primary particles [J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2014, 22(5): 590–595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. [15]
    TANG Zhi-yuan, RUAN Yan-li. Effects of different carbon source on the performance of LiFePO4/C composite cathode material [J]. Acta Chimica Sinica, 2005, 63(16): 1500–1504. (in Chinese)Google Scholar
  16. [16]
    DOEFF M M, HU Y, MCLARNON F, KOSTECKI R. Effect of surface carbon structure on the electrochemical performance of LiFePO4 [J]. Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, 2003, 6(10): A207–A209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. [17]
    BELHAROUAK I, JOHNSON C, AMINE K. Synthesis and electrochemical analysis of vapor-deposited carbon-coated LiFePO4 [J]. Electrochemistry Communications, 2005, 7(10): 983–988.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. [18]
    BURBA C M, FRECH R. Roman and FTIR spectroscopic study of LixFePO4 [J]. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2004, 151(7): A1032–A1038.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. [19]
    RAVET N, GAUTHIER M, ZAGHIB K, GOODENOUGH J B, MAUGER A, GENDRON F, JULIEN C M. Mechanism of the Fe3+ reduction at low temperature for LiFePO4 synthesis from a polymeric additive [J]. Chemistry of Materials, 2007, 19(10): 2595–2602.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. [20]
    KIM J K, CHOI J W, CHERUVALLY G, KIM J U, AHN J H, CHO G B, KIM K W, AHN H J. A modified mechanical activation synthesis for carbon-coated LiFePO4 cathode in lithium batteries [J]. Materials Letters, 2007, 61(18): 3822–3825.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Central South University Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Zheng-wei Xiao (肖政伟)
    • 1
  • Ying-jie Zhang (张英杰)
    • 1
  • Guo-rong Hu (胡国荣)
    • 2
  1. 1.Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy EngineeringKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingChina
  2. 2.School of Metallurgy and EnvironmentCentral South UniversityChangshaChina

Personalised recommendations