Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical performance of Nb doped LiFePO4/C cathodes

Abstract

We synthesized Nb-doped LiFePO4/C nano composite cathode materials bymechanochemical activation followed by a single step calcination. The startingchemicals of Li2CO3, FeC2O4.2H2O, NH4H2.PO4and C6H8O7as lithium, iron,phosphate, and carbon sources are mixed in a high energy ball mill (250 rpm, 5h)and calcined at 650 °C and 10 hours. The resultant materials are structurally (XRD,SEM, TEM) and electrochemically characterized and high purity LiFePO4with highelectrochemical performance is obtained. Voltage vs. specific capacity, discharge capacityvs. cycle number in manufactured battery is presented. An initial specific dischargecapacity of 153 mAhg−1 and a specific discharge capacity of 128.4 mAhg−1 after the 8thcharge/discharge cycling at 1C is recorded.