High-rate and long-term cycling capabilities of LiFe0.4Mn0.6PO4/C composite for lithium-ion batteries

A porous LiFe0.4Mn0.6PO4/C composite was prepared via a simple carbon gel-combustion synthesis process. The obtained product possessed higher surface area, abundant mesopore structure, the improved kinetics and electronic conductivity by doping with Fe2+ and coating with carbon, respectively. As a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, the as-prepared LiFe0.4Mn0.6PO4/C composite showed outstanding rate capacities and cycling performances at high charge/discharge rates. The discharge capacity of LiFe0.4Mn0.6PO4/C was as high as 121.1 mAh g(-1) in the first cycle at 0.5 C and remained 103.8 mAh g(-1) after 50 cycles. Even at higher rate of 10 C, the initial discharge capacity of the electrode exhibited 64.6 mAh g(-1), and the sample electrode delivered capacity retention of 83.3 % after 1000 cycles. The improved electrochemical properties of the LiFe0.4Mn0.6PO4/C electrode materials suggest the applications of the sample in high power lithium-ion batteries.