Glucose assisted synthesis of hollow spindle LiMnPO4/C nanocomposites for high performance Li-ion batteries. (1st October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, Xiaoning; Chang, Zhaorong; Chang, Kun; Li, Bao; Tang, Hongwei; Shangguan, Enbo; Yuan, Xiao-Zi; Wang, Haijiang
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 178(2015)
• Page Start: 420
• Page End: 428
• Publication Date: 2015-10-01
• Subjects: Lithium ion battery -- lithium manganese phosphate -- solution-phased method -- low temperature synthesis -- dimethyl sulfoxide; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2015.07.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Nano-sized hollow spindle LiMnPO4 with a well-developed olivine-type structure exhibits a high specific capacity and cycling performance. Highlights: A pure and well-crystallized LiMnPO4 are synthesized via a solution-phase method. The LiMnPO4 /C composite constitutes highly and uniformly distributed hollow spindles. The LiMnPO4 /C composite exhibits a high specific capacity and cycling performance. The growth process of the hollow spindle LiMnPO4 particles is revealed. Abstract: Nano-sized hollow spindle LiMnPO4 with a well-developed olivine-type structure was synthesized with the assistance of glucose in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/H2 O under ambient pressure and 108 °C. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images show that the LiMnPO4 particles consist of hollow spindles with a mean width of 200 nm, length of 500-700 nm, and wall thickness of about 30-60 nm. The LiMnPO4 /C nanocomposite was obtained by sintering nano-sized LiMnPO4 with glucose at 650 °C under an inert atmosphere for 4 h. With a coated carbon thickness of about 10 nm, the obtained composite maintained the morphology and size of the hollow spindle. The electrochemical tests show the specific capacity of LiMnPO4 /C nanocomposite is 161.8 mAh g −1 at 0.05C, 137.7 mAh g −1 at 0.1C and 110.8 mAh g −1 at 0.2 C. The retention of discharge capacity maintains 92% after 100 cycles at 0.2 C. After different rate cycles the high capacity of the LiMnPO4 /C nanocomposite can be recovered. This high performance is attributed to the composite material's hollow spindle structure, which facilitates the electrolyte infiltration, resulting in an increased solid-liquid interface. The carbon layer covering the hollow spindle also contributes to the high performance of the LiMnPO4 /C material as the carbon layer improves its electronic conductivity and the nano-scaled wall thickness decreases the paths of Li deintercalation.