Small · 2011 · 87 citations · 53 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceInorganic ChemistryMaterials ChemistryNanomaterialsBattery MaterialsCathode MaterialsElectrode MaterialsEnergy Storage MaterialsInorganic MaterialsNanocompositesBattery NanomaterialsCarbon For Lithium-ion BatteriesCathode Active MaterialsCrystalline StructureLithium-ion Battery Cathode MaterialsLithium-ion Battery MaterialsNanostructured Battery MaterialsStorage Performance
Olivine LiFePO(4) is considered one of the most promising cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. A simple one-step, template-free, low-temperature solvothermal method is developed for the synthesis of urchinlike hierarchical mesocrystals of pristine LiFePO(4) as well as carbon-coated LiFePO(4) composites. Each urchinlike mesocrystal consists of LiFePO(4) sheets self-assembled via a dipolar field in spheres during a solvothermal process under the influence of Cl(-) anions. The obtained primary sheets of LiFePO(4) are single crystalline in nature and can be coated in situ with an amorphous nitrogen-doped carbonaceous layer several nanometers in thickness. To increase the conductivity of the carbon coating, the materials are subjected to further temperature treatment (700 °C) under an inert atmosphere. The lithium storage performance of the pure LiFePO(4) is compared with that of its carbon-coated counterparts.
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