LiFePO4/C composites from carbothermal reduction method

Using the cheap raw materials lithium carbonate, iron phosphate, and carbon, LiFePO4/C composite can be obtained from the carbothermal reduction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) observations were used to investigate the structure and morphology of LiFePO4/C. The LiFePO4 particles were coated by smaller carbon particles. LiFePO4/C obtained at 750 C presents good electrochemical performance with an initial discharge capacity of 133 mAh/g, capacity retention of 128 mAh/g after 20 cycles, and a diffusion coefficient of lithium ions in the LiFePO4/C of 8.80x10(-13) cm(2)/s, which is just a little lower than that of LiFePO4/C obtained from the solid-state reaction (9.20x10(-13) cm(2)/s) by using FeC2O4 as a precursor.