Lithium Iron Phosphate/Carbon (LFP/C) Composite Using Nanocellulose as a Reducing Agent and Carbon Source

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO , LFP) is the most promising cathode material for use in safe electric vehicles (EVs), due to its long cycle stability, low cost, and low toxicity, but it suffers from low conductivity and ion diffusion. In this work, we present a simple method to obtain LFP/carbon (LF...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers 2023-06, Vol.15 (12), p.2628
Main Authors: Kroff, Macarena, Hevia, Samuel A, O'Shea, James N, Muro, Izaskun Gil de, Palomares, Verónica, Rojo, Teófilo, Del Río, Rodrigo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon
Cellulose
Cellulose fibers
Coatings
Comparative analysis
Electric vehicles
Electrode materials
Graphene
Heat
Ion diffusion
Iron
Lithium
Low conductivity
Low cost
Methods
Microscopy
Nanocrystals
Nanoparticles
Particle size
Reagents
Reducing agents
Spectrum analysis
Stabilizers (agents)
Synthesis
Toxicity
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Summary:Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO , LFP) is the most promising cathode material for use in safe electric vehicles (EVs), due to its long cycle stability, low cost, and low toxicity, but it suffers from low conductivity and ion diffusion. In this work, we present a simple method to obtain LFP/carbon (LFP/C) composites with different types of NC: cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF). Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis was used to obtain LFP with nanocellulose inside the vessel, and the final LFP/C composite was achieved by heating the mixture under a N atmosphere. The resulting LFP/C indicated that the NC in the reaction medium not only acts as the reducing agent that aqueous iron solutions need (avoiding the use of other chemicals), but also as a stabiliser of the nanoparticles produced in the hydrothermal synthesis, obtaining fewer agglomerated particles compared to synthesis without NC. The sample with the best coating-and, therefore, the best electrochemical response-was the sample with 12.6% carbon derived from CNF in the composite instead of CNC, due to its homogeneous coating. The utilisation of CNF in the reaction medium could be a promising method to obtain LFP/C in a simple, rapid, and low-cost way, avoiding the waste of unnecessary chemicals.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym15122628