ZrO₂ and Nitrogen-doped Carbon Co-coated LiFePO₄ Cathode with Improved Cycling Stability and Rate Performance for Lithium Batteries

Abstract

LiFePO₄ cathode was successfully co-coated by ZrO₂ and N-doped carbon layer based on the coprecipitation of Zr species and polydopamine on the LiFePO₄ surfaces. The mutual promotion between the hydrolyzation of ZrO₂ precursor and the self-polymerization of dopamine was realized in the one-step synthesis. After being used in the coin battery as cathode material, the ZrO₂ and N-doped carbon co-coated LiFePO₄ displayed improved cycling stability (97.0% retention at 0.2 C after 200 cycles) and enhanced rate performance (130.7 mAh·g⁻¹ at 1 C) due to its higher electrochemical reactivity and reversibility compared with those of commercial LiFePO₄.

Keywords

LiFePO₄ / ZrO₂ / N-doped carbon / cathode / lithium batteries

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