Synthesis and electrochemical studies of carbon-modified LiNiPO₄ as the cathode material of Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Well-crystallized olivine LiNiPO₄ and carbon-modified LiNiPO₄(LiNiPO₄/C) were synthesized by a combined solvothermal and solid state reaction method using water-benzyl alcohol two-phase solvent. The structure and morphology of the prepared LiNiPO₄ were systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The LiNiPO₄ particles are up to around 2 μm in diameter while the particle size of LiNiPO₄/C is about 100–200 nm. At a current rate of 0.05 C(1.00 C=167 mA/g, corresponding to one Li⁺ intercalation/deintercalation), LiNiPO₄ and LiNiPO₄/C presented a high initial specific capacity of 157 and 220 mA·h/g, respectively. The capacity of LiNiPO₄/C is 72% larger than that of LiNiPO₄ at 0.1 C. The LiNiPO₄/C cathode exhibits a superior electrochemical performance in comparison with LiNiPO₄, revealing that carbon modifying is an effective method to improve the ionic diffusion and electronic conductivity of cathode material LiNiPO₄. Furthermore, lithium ion diffusion coefficients of LiNiPO₄ and LiNiPO₄/C are 1.80×10⁻¹⁵ and 1.91×10⁻¹⁴ cm²/s, respectively, calculated via the data from electrochemical impedance spectra.

Keywords

Lithium nickel phosphate / Carbon-modifying / Cathode material / Lithium ion battery / Lithium ion diffusion coefficient

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