Microwave-Irradiated Solvothermal Synthesis of LiFePO_4 Nanorods and their Nanocomposites for Lithium Ion Batteries

摘要

LiFePO_4 nanorods have been synthesized by a rapid mcrowave-solvothermal approach within 5 minutes at temperatures as low as 300°C without requiring any inert atmosphere or post annealing at elevated temperatures in reducing gas atmospheres. The resulting LiFePO_4 nanorods have subsequently been encapsulated within (i) a mixed electronically and ionically conducting p-toluene sulphonic acid (p-TSA) doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and (ii) multiwalled carbon nanorubes (MWCNTs) at ambient-temperatures to obtain a nanocomposite. These LiFePO_4-PEDOT and LiFePO_4-MWCNT nanocomposites offer discharge capacities of, respectively, 166 and 161mAh/g, which are close to the theoretical value of 170mAh/g, with excellent capacity retention and rate capability.