Three-dimensional graphene framework scaffolded FeP nanoparticles as anodes for high performance lithium ion batteries.

Highlights • 3D graphene scaffolded FeP anode is designed for advanced Li-ion batteries. • Excellent rate performance and stable long cycling performance are achieved. • The full cell with LiFePO 4 cathode and FeP-rGO anode shows excellent performance. Abstract Iron monophosphide (FeP) anode, with high theoretical capacity and available resources applied in advanced lithium ion batteries, is faced with the challenge of dramatic volume expansion during cycling. Here, a novel 3D graphene framework scaffolded FeP nanoparticles composite was designed and fabricated via a facial three-step method. 3D FeP-rGO anode delivers an unprecedented rate performance (458 mA h g−1 at 10 A g−1) and excellent long cycling performance (448 mA h g−1 at the high current density of 3 A g−1 over 500 cycles). More impressively, the full cell consisting of 3D FeP-rGO anode and LiFePO 4 cathode shows a stable Li+ storage performance with a high capacity retention of 97% (373 mA h g−1) at 0.5 A g−1 after 120 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the special hierarchical 3D graphene framework of composite that can provide abundant channels to facilitate the rapid Li+ diffusion and accommodate the volume change during cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]