Synthesis and electrochemical properties of LiMPO4 (M = Fe, Mn, Co) nanocrystals in polyol medium.

Olivine structured LiMPO4 (M = Fe, Mn, Co) was synthesized by the solvothermal process using a polyol medium of diethylene glycol (DEG) without any further heating as a post procedure. The synthesized LiMPO4 nanoparticles exhibited an average length of 200 approximately 400 nm, width of 200 approximately 300 nm, and thickness of 20 approximately 50 nm, and with well dispersed plate and rod morphologies. The Rietveld-refined X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of LiFePO4 exhibited a good fit with an olivine structure (space group: Pnma) and no undesirable impurity phases. The LiFePO4 nanocrystals showed a reversible capacity of 167 mAh/g, equating to a utilization efficiency of 98% of its theoretical capacity, with a good cyclability over an extended range up to 40 cycles.

Microwave assisted synthesis of nanocrystalline Fe-phosphates electrode materials and their electrochemical properties.

LiFePO4 nanocrystalline particles were synthesized using microwave assisted polyol process within a fast reaction time of 20 minutes without any further heating as a post step. The synthesized LiFePO4 nanocrystalline particles showed mono-dispersed rod and orthorhombic-like shapes with a size of 60 approximately 180 nm. The refined X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample was indexed well to the olivine crystal structure (space group: Pnma) without any impurity phases. The LiFePO4 nanocrystalline particles show a capacity of 161 mAh/g in a voltage range of 2.5-4.2 V with a current density of 0.1 mA/cm2 without any observable capacity fading in extended cycles of 100th. A cyclic voltammetry analysis exhibits distinctly sharp peaks corresponding to the typical LiFePO4/FePO4 redox couples and demonstrates a good reversibility of the sample.