Synthesis and electrochemical performance of LiFePO/C cathode materials from FeO for high-power lithium-ion batteries.

Carbon-coated olivine-structured LiFePO/C composites are synthesized via an efficient and low-cost carbothermal reduction method using FeO as iron source at a relative low temperature (600 °C). The effects of two kinds of carbon sources, inorganic (acetylene black) and organic (sucrose), on the structures, morphologies, and lithium storage properties of LiFePO/C are evaluated in details. The particle size and distribution of the carbon-coated LiFePO from sucrose (LiFePO/SUC) are more uniform than that obtained from acetylene black (LiFePO/AB). Moreover, the LiFePO/SUC nanocomposite shows superior electrochemical properties such as high discharge capacity of 156 mAh g at 0.1 C, excellent cyclic stability, and rate capability (78 mAh g at 20 C), as compared to LiFePO/AB. Cyclic voltammetric test discloses that the Li-ion diffusion, the reversibility of lithium extraction/insertion, and electrical conductivity are significantly improved in LiFePO/SUC composite. It is believed that olivine-structured LiFePO decorated with carbon from organic carbon source (sucrose) using FeO is a promising cathode for high-power lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]