Improved performance of porous LiFePO4/C as lithium battery cathode processed by high energy milling comparison with conventional ball milling

Porous LiFePO4 is synthesized and coated with amorphous carbon by using high energy nano-mill (HENM) processed solid-state reaction method. FeCl3 (38%) containing water solution which is originated from pickling of steel scrap (waste liquid) is used as a source material in this study. The result indicates that LiFePO4 powders are well coated with the amorphous carbon. HENM process successfully produces the porous LiFePO4 with homogeneously distributed pores and a well networked carbon web, which delivers an enhanced electrochemical rate capability. HENM process is incorporated as an effective route for reducing particle size, distributing particle homogeneously and averting agglomeration of particles of precursor in this study. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with elemental mapping, transmission electron microscopy with selected area (electron) diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic charge/ discharge are employed to characterize the final product. Electrochemical measurement shows that the synthesized LiFePO4/C composite cathode delivers an initial discharge capacity of 161 mAhg(-1) at 0.1C-rate between 4.2 and 2.5 V. Remarkably, the cathode delivers 101.9 mAhg(-1) at high charge/ discharge rate (10 C). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.