Effects of temperature variation on Li_xFe PO_4/C(0

Li Fe PO4/C was prepared via solid state reaction and characterized with X-ray powder diffraction and charge–discharge test. As-prepared Li Fe PO4/C has a triphylite structure and exhibits an excellent rate capability and capacity retention. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) was applied to investigate LixFe PO4/C(0<x<1) electrode on temperature variation. The valid equivalent circuit for EIS fitting was determined which contains an intercalation capacitance for Li+ ion accumulation and consumption in the electrode reaction. The surface layer impedance needs to be included in the equivalent circuit when Li Fe PO4/C is deeply delithiated at a relatively high temperature. EIS examination indicates that a temperature rise leads to a better reversibility, lower charge transfer resistance, higher exchange current density J0 and greater Li+ ion diffusion coefficient for the LixFe PO4/C electrode process. The Li+ ion concentration in LixFe PO4/C is potential to impact the Li+ ion diffusion coefficient, and a decrease in the former results in an increase in the latter.

Improving electrochemical performances of LiFePO_4 /C cathode material via a novel three-layer electrode

As an improvement on the conventional two-layer electrode （active material layerlcurrent collector）, a novel sandwich-like three-layer electrode （conductive layerlactive material layertcurrent collector） for cathode material LiFePO4/C was introduced in order to improve its electrochemical performance. LiFePO4/C in the three-layer electrode exhibited superior rate capability in comparison with that in the two-layer electrode in accordance with charge-discharge examination. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that Fe3＋/Fe2＋ redox couple for LiFePO4 in the three-layer electrode displayed faster kinetics, better reversibility and much lower charge transfer resistance than that in the two-layer electrode in electrochemical process. For three-layer electrode, the holes in the surface of active material layer were filled by smaller acetylene black grains, which formed electrical connections and provided more pathways to electron transport to/from LiFePO4/C particles exposed to the bulk electrolyte.

A novel synthesis of LiFePO_4/C from Fe_2O_3 without extra carbon or carbon-containing reductant

A novel synthesis of LiFePO4/C from Fe2O3 with no extra carbon or carbon-containing reductant was introduced： Fe2O3 （＋NH4H2PO4）→Fe2P2O7（＋Li2CO3＋glucose）→LiFePO4/C. X-ray diffractometry （XRD）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM） were utilized to characterize relevant products obtained in the synthetic procedure. The reaction of Fe2P2O7 and Li2CO3 was investigated by thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analysis （TGA-DTA）. Fe2O3 is completely reduced to Fe2P2O7 by NH4H2PO4 at 700 ℃ and Fe2P2O7 fully reacts with Li2CO3 to form LiFePO4 in the temperature range of 663.4-890 ℃. The primary particles of LiFePO4/C samples prepared at 670, 700 and 750 ℃ respectively exhibit uniform morphology and narrow size distribution, 0.5-3 μm for those obtained at 670 and 700 ℃ and 0.5-5 μm for those obtained at 750 ℃. LiFePO4/C （carbon content of 5.49%, mass fraction） made at 670 ℃ shows an appreciable average capacity of 153.2 mA·h/g at 0.1C in the first 50 cycles.

A Facile Route for Synthesis of LiFePO_4/C Cathode Material with Nano-sized Primary Particles

A facile and practical route was introduced to prepare LiFePO4/C cathode material with nano-sized primary particles and excellent electrochemical performance. LiH2PO4 was synthesized by using H3PO4 and LiOH as raw materials. Then, as-prepared LiH2PO4, reduced iron powder andα-D-glucose were ball-milled, dried and sin-tered to prepare LiFePO4/C. X-ray diffractometry was used to characterize LiH2PO4, ball-milled product and LiFePO4/C. Differential scanning calorimeter-thermo gravimetric analysis was applied to investigate possible reac-tions in sintering and find suitable temperature for LiFePO4 formation. Scanning electron microscopy was em-ployed for the morphology of LiFePO4/C. As-prepared LiH2PO4 is characterized to be in P21cn（33） space group, which reacts with reduced iron powder to form Li3PO4, Fe3（PO4）2 and H2 in ball-milling and sintering. The appro-priate temperature for LiFePO4/C synthesis is 541.3-976.7 ℃. LiFePO4/C prepared at 700 ℃ presents nano-sized primary particles forming aggregates. Charge-discharge examination indicates that as-prepared LiFePO4/C displays appreciable discharge capacities of 145 and 131 mA·h·g^-1 at 0.1 and 1 C respectively and excellent discharge ca-pacity retention.

Effect of different carbon precursors on properties of LiFePO_4/C

The anoxic decomposition and influence of carbon precursors on the properties of LiFePO_4/C prepared by using Fe_2O_3 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 LiFePO_4 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 LiFePO_4/C which forms conduction on and between LiFePO_4 particles.LiFePO_4/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 LiFePO_4 to a limited extent but incapable of preparing practical cathode.

Materials Research Advances towards High-Capacity Battery/Fuel Cell Devices(Invited paper)

The world has entered an era featured with fast transportations,instant communications,and prompt technological revolutions,the further advancement of which all relies fundamentally,yet,on the development of cost-effective energy resources allowing for durable and high-rate energy supply.Current battery and fuel cell systems are challenged by a few issues characterized either by insufficient energy capacity or by operation instability and,thus,are not ideal for such highly-demanded applications as electrical vehicles and portable electronic devices.In this mini-review,we present,from materials perspectives,a few selected important breakthroughs in energy resources employed in these applications.Prospectives are then given to look towards future research activities for seeking viable materials solutions for addressing the capacity,durability,and cost shortcomings associated with current battery/fuel cell devices.