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LiFePO4/Carbon Nanomaterial Composites for Cathodes of High-Power Lithium Ion Batteries

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Inorganic Materials Aims and scope

Abstract—

Using a simple and technological approach, we have fabricated composites based on a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) with the olivine structure and a carbon coating containing 5–10% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or nanoflakes. Materials prepared with the use of mechanochemical activation have a slightly smaller particle size. At the same time, their electrical conductivity is higher by several orders of magnitude, reaching 8.7 × 10–2 S/cm for the best samples. Moreover, the synthesized materials demonstrate a considerable increase in their reversible capacity, especially at high battery charge/discharge rates. The composites containing carbon nanotubes show the best performance. In particular, the discharge capacity of the LFP/C/10CNT-500 composite is 120, 97, 78, and 57 mAh/g at current densities of 200, 800, 1600, and 3200 mA/g, respectively, whereas the discharge capacity of the pristine LFP/C is 70, 63, 43, and 30 mAh/g. This effect is due to a decrease in particle size and the formation of a network of high-conductive contacts between particles of the cathode material. No clear correlation has been found between the electrochemical capacity of the composites and their specific surface area or electrical conductivity.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In this study, the scanning electron microscopy was performed used shared experimental facilities supported by IGIC RAS state assignment.

Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 20-08-00769.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    I. A. Stenina, P. V. Minakova & A. B. Yaroslavtsev

  2. Marshal V.I. Chuikov School in the South-East, 111033, Moscow, Russia

    P. V. Minakova

  3. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071, Moscow, Russia

    T. L. Kulova

  4. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, 125047, Moscow, Russia

    A. V. Desyatov

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  1. I. A. Stenina
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  5. A. B. Yaroslavtsev
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Stenina, I.A., Minakova, P.V., Kulova, T.L. et al. LiFePO4/Carbon Nanomaterial Composites for Cathodes of High-Power Lithium Ion Batteries. Inorg Mater 57, 620–628 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020168521060108

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