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Aqueous solution–gel precursors for LiFePO 4 lithium ion battery cathodes, their decomposition and phase formation

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for energy, environment and building applications
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Abstract

Several aqueous solution–gel precursors for the Li ion battery cathode material LiFePO4, were synthesized. These differ in their composition, both regarding their Fe source, as well as in the complexing agent present. Fe(II) lactate hydrate is for the first time used as Fe2+ source. The ability to use an Fe3+ source (Fe(III) nitrate nonahydrate) for the synthesis of LiFePO4 is also investigated. Our results show that it is possible to reduce the Fe3+ to Fe2+, necessary to enable LiFePO4 phase formation, during annealing under specific conditions. The decomposition behavior for these precursors in dry air, as well as in an inert atmosphere, is shown. Raman spectroscopy is used to evaluate the structure of the carbon phases present after annealing of the precursor powders.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Ken Elen for carrying out the XRD measurements and Dries De Sloovere for TGA measurements. Thomas Vranken is a Ph.D. fellow of the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Institute for Materials Research (IMO), UHasselt, Hasselt University, imec division imomec, Agoralaan building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium

    T. Vranken, W. Van Gompel, M. K. Van Bael & A. Hardy

  2. Materials Physics, Institute for Materials Research (IMO), UHasselt, Hasselt University, imec division imomec, Wetenschapspark 1, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium

    J. D’Haen

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  1. T. Vranken
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  2. W. Van Gompel
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  4. M. K. Van Bael
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Correspondence to A. Hardy.

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Vranken, T., Van Gompel, W., D’Haen, J. et al. Aqueous solution–gel precursors for LiFePO 4 lithium ion battery cathodes, their decomposition and phase formation. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 84, 198–205 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-017-4467-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-017-4467-z

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