One-pot synthesis of Li3VO4 particles with thin nitrogen-doped carbon coating layers as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2018-10, Vol.767, p.657-665
• Main Authors: Park, Hansol, Jae, Woojin, Kim, Jongsik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anode; Dopamine; Lithium vanadate; Lithium-ion batteries; Nitrogen-doped carbon coating
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.07.151

Lithium vanadate (Li3VO4) is one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries because of its relatively high capacity (about 394 mA h g−1), small volume change, safe working voltage, and low cost. However, Li3VO4 suffers from unsatisfactory cycling and rate performances owing to its low electrical conductivity. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon-coated Li3VO4 particles are synthesized using dopamine as the single source of both carbon and nitrogen. In particular, the thickness of the nitrogen-doped carbon coating layers can be controlled by simply modulating the polymerization degree of dopamine. The prepared Li3VO4 anode exhibits enhanced reversible capacity of ∼426 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.5 C in the voltage range 0.01–3.0 V. Its redox reaction kinetics is also superior to that of bare Li3VO4 in terms of rate capability, cyclic voltammetry, and impedance characteristics. [Display omitted] •Nitrogen-doped carbon-coated Li3VO4 particles are synthesized successfully.•Dopamine is used as the single source of both N and C.•Carbon coating layers are controlled by controlling the polymerization of dopamine.•Carbon-coated Li3VO4 shows improved electrochemical performance than bare Li3VO4.