Hydrothermal Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Li3V2(PO4)3/C-Based Composites for Lithium-Ion Batteries

To improve performance at higher rates, we developed a hydrothermal method to prepare carbon-coated monoclinic lithium vanadium phosphate (Li3V2(PO4)(3)) powder to be used as a cathode material for Li-ion batteries. The structural, morphological and electrochemical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling. A superior cycle and rate behavior are demonstrated for Li3V1.85Sc0.15(PO4)(3)/C and Li2.96Ca0.02V2(PO4)(3)/C electrodes at charge-discharge current rates above 5C.