Pyro-synthesis of a high rate nano-Li3V2(PO4)3/C cathode with mixed morphology for advanced Li-ion batteries

• Published in: Scientific reports 2014-02, Vol.4 (1), p.4047-4047, Article 4047
• Main Authors: Kang, Jungwon, Mathew, Vinod, Gim, Jihyeon, Kim, Sungjin, Song, Jinju, Im, Won Bin, Han, Junhee, Lee, Jeong Yong, Kim, Jaekook
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 147/135; 147/143; 639/301/357/354; 639/638/161; 639/638/161/891; Batteries; Carbon sources; Diffraction; Humanities and Social Sciences; Lithium; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Nucleation; Powder; Science; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep04047

A monoclinic Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C (LVP/C) cathode for lithium battery applications was synthesized by a polyol-assisted pyro-synthesis. The polyol in the present synthesis acts not only as a solvent, reducing agent and a carbon source but also as a low-cost fuel that facilitates a combustion process combined with the release of ultrahigh exothermic energy useful for nucleation process. Subsequent annealing of the amorphous particles at 800°C for 5 h is sufficient to produce highly crystalline LVP/C nanoparticles. A combined analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) patterns was used to determine the unit cell parameters of the prepared LVP/C. Electron microscopic studies revealed rod-type particles of length ranging from nanometer to micrometers dispersed among spherical particles with average particle-sizes in the range of 20–30 nm. When tested for Li-insertion properties in the potential windows of 3–4.3 and 3–4.8 V, the LVP/C cathode demonstrated initial discharge capacities of 131 and 196 mAh/g (~100% theoretical capacities) at 0.15 and 0.1 C current densities respectively with impressive capacity retentions for 50 cycles. Interestingly, the LVP/C cathode delivered average specific capacities of 125 and 90 mAh/g at current densities of 9.6 C and 15 C respectively within the lower potential window.