Optimized LiFePO[sub 4] for Lithium Battery Cathodes

powders were synthesized under various conditions and the performance of the cathodes was evaluated using coin cells. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope observations, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area measurements, particle-size distribution measurements, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Ab initio calculation was used to confirm the experimental redox potentials and Mössbauer parameters. The choice of a moderate sintering temperature and a homogeneous precursor enabled nearly perfect utilization of >95% of the 170 mAh/g theoretical capacity at room temperature. There are two main obstacles to achieving optimum charge/discharge performance of (i) undesirable particle growth at and (ii) the presence of a noncrystalline residual phase at © 2001 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.