Hydrothermal synthesis of plate-like carbon-coated Li3V2(PO4)3 and its low temperature performance for high power lithium ion batteries

A plate-like carbon-coated Li3V2(PO4)(3) (LVP/C) powder composed of nanoplates was synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The structure and electrochemical properties of the LVP/C are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling. This LVP/C electrode exhibits good rate performance at room temperature with a specific capacity of 113.8 and 128.8 mAh g(-1) at 6 C rate in the voltage range of 3.0-4.3V and 3.0-4.8V, respectively. The sample also shows good cycling performance with 91.4% and 85% of capacity retention after 200 cycles at IC rate. Even at -20 degrees C, the plate-like LVP/C delivers a stable cycling performance with a specific capacity of 120.7 mAh g(-1), being 95.3% of the capacity at room temperature, and after 80 cycles, the capacity retention is 97.2%. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.