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Li2FeSiO4/C hollow nanospheres as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

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Abstract

Undoubtedly, it is imperative to figure out two stubborn issues concerning low electronic conductivity and sluggish lithium ion diffusion to promote the practical application of Li2FeSiO4 materials in lithium-ion battery (LIB) cathode. Herein, we report an innovative and simple strategy that combines a hydrothermal process with subsequent annealing to synthesize highly uniform Li2FeSiO4/C hollow nanospheres. During the hydrothermal process, polystyrene nanospheres are employed not only as the template but also, more tactfully, as carbon source to form amorphous carbon layers, which will function to enhance the electronic conductivity and restrict particle aggregations. The use of the LIB Li2FeSiO4/C hollow nanospheres as a LIB cathode delivers a desired stable capacity at each rate stage, and even at a high rate of 10 C, the hollow nanosphere cathode can present a specific discharge capacity as high as 50.5 mAh·g−1. After 100 cycles, the capacity retentions at 1 and 10 C remain as high as 93% and 72%, respectively. The superior electrochemical performance is believed to be related to special architectures of the Li2FeSiO4/C hollow nanosphere cathode.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21503134 and 21406220), the Science Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (No. 413064); PSA Peugeot Citroёn (No.13H100000584); Shanghai Jiao Tong University New Faculty Startup Funds (No.14X10040061); and the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (No.15YF1406500).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Shuiyun Shen, Yao Zhang, Wansen Zhang, Xiaohui Yan, Guofeng Xia, Aiming Wu, Changchun Ke & Junliang Zhang

  2. SJTU-Paris Tech Elite Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Guanghua Wei

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  1. Shuiyun Shen
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  2. Yao Zhang
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Correspondence to Junliang Zhang.

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Shen, S., Zhang, Y., Wei, G. et al. Li2FeSiO4/C hollow nanospheres as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Nano Res. 12, 357–363 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-018-2223-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-018-2223-5

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