LiFePO4 Nanocrystals: Liquid-Phase Reduction Synthesis and Their Electrochemical Performance

Nanosized LiFePO4 is a kind of promising material for high performance lithium ion batteries; however, the synthesis of nanosized LiFePO4 still has some challenges in forming an orthorhombic phase in atmospheric liquid phase and protecting the LFP nanoparticles from aggregation, etc. In this work, LiFePO4 nanocrystals were synthesized through a high-temperature (350 °C) liquid-phase reduction method. The size and morphology of nanocrystals can be readily controlled by tuning the ratio of solvents, and the size-dependent behavior of lithium storage performance is also observed. After a carbon-coating surface treatment, rhombic-shaped LiFePO4 nanocrystals display excellent lithium storage properties with high reversible capacities and good cycle life (141.0 mAh g–1 at 0.5 C after 50 cycles etc.). This method can be extended to prepare LiMnPO4 nanorods by substituting iron source with manganese salt.