Nanocrystalline LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4 / Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Positive Electrode for 5-Volts Class Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Okita Naohisa , Kisu Kazuaki , Sakai Yuki , Lim Yiyo , Takami Yusuke , Brousse Thierry , Rozier Patrick , Simon Patrice , Naoi Wako , Naoi Katsuhiko 
Published: February 2020

1. Introduction

Lithium cobalt phosphate (LiCoPO4) with olivine structure has attracted much attention as a new positive electrode material for lithium ion batteries because of its high potential (4.8V vs. Li/Li+), theoretical capacity (167 mAh g-1) and thermal stability due to the P-O covalent bonding. However, the practical use of LiCoPO4 has been limited by the capacity fading during cycling due to the electrolyte oxidation and irreversible structure changes such as amorphization and anti-site defects of the material during charge and discharge1). Besides, it suffers from its poor rate performance related to the inherently low electron conductivity (<10-9 S cm-1)2) and Li+ diffusivity (<10-13 cm2 s-1)2) due to its b-axis oriented diffusion path.

To overcome these limitations, we have synthesized Fe-substituted LiCoPO4 (LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4) nanoparticles which are highly dispersed within a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) matrix via an original in-situ material synthesis method called ultracentrifugation (UC) treatment3,4). Here, we also report about the influence of Fe substitution on cycle and rate performances of LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4.

2. Experimental

 UC treatment was carried out on the prepared mixture of Co(CH3COO)2・4H2O, Fe(CH3COO)2, CH3COOLi, citric acid, MWCNT and H3PO4 aqueous solution. Obtained composites were electrochemically characterized using a 2032 coin half-cell with Li metal in 1M LiPF6 / EC:PC:DMC (1:1:3, volume ratio). Physicochemical characterizations of the LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4/ MWCNT composite were conducted by HRTEM, XRD, XPS, XAFS measurements and Mössbauer spectroscopy.

3. Results and Discussion

The XRD pattern of LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4 / MWCNT composite indicates an olivine structure, without impurity phases. The combination of XRD, XPS, XAFS and Mössbauer analysis suggests that substituted Fe3+ into LiCoPO4 crystals was not placed in the Co2+ site, but in the Li+ site. The result of HRTEM observation indicates that LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4 nanocrystals (ca. 100 nm) were highly dispersed within a MWCNT matrix. In addition, HRTEM images of LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4 / MWCNT composite showed that a substitution of Fe3+ into LiCoPO4 crystals prevents degradations such as amorphization of LiCoPO4and electrolyte decomposition during charge and discharge processes.

Then, LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4 / MWCNT composite showed a higher discharge capacity of 130 mAh g-1 than LiCoPO4 / MWCNT composite and enabled a 100C (36 seconds) rate discharge with 45 mAh g-1. Furthermore, the obtained composite showed stable cycle performance with 81 % of capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.2C. These enhancements were achieved by the combination of an entanglement between nanocrystalline LiCo0.8Fe0.2PO4 and MWCNT matrix and Fe3+ substitution in the Li+ site of LiCoPO4. The Fe3+substitution gives a “pillar effect” which effectively prevents an irreversible crystal structure change and electrolyte decomposition during charge and discharge processes, resulting in the stable cycle performance.

References

1) A. Boulineau et al., Chem. Mater., 27, 802 (2015).

2) S. Brutti et al., ACS Symposium Series, (2013).

3) K. Naoi et al., Acc. Chem. Res., 46, 1075 (2013).

4) K. Naoi et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 5, 9363 (2012).