Improvement of electrochemical performance for Li3V2(PO4)3/C electrode using LiCoO2 as an additive

A Li3V2(PO4)(3)/C (LVP/C) electrode and a new Li3V2(PO4)(3)/C electrode using LiCoO2 as an additive (LVP/LCO/C) have been successfully fabricated and investigated via physical and electrochemical methods. Compared with the LVP/C electrode, the LVP/LCO/C electrode presents better rate capability and cyclic performance in the range 3.0-4.3V. For the LVP/LCO/C electrode, the largest capacities of 99.3 and 68.0 mAhg(-1) are delivered at 1 and 15 C charge rates and 51 C discharge rate, respectively. 80.4% of the largest value is kept at 1 C charge and 51 C discharge rates in the 800th cycle. The excellent rate capability and cyclic performance are attributed to the small crystallite size of LVP particles, the small particles, narrow particle size distribution in the LVP/LCO/C electrode, large specific surface area and pore size, low electrical resistance for the LVP/LCO/C electrode, and the existence of the other electroactive LCO. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.