title: Formation mechanism of LiFePO₄ sticks grown by a microwave-assisted liquid-phase process.
abstract: A time-dependent study on the formation of LiFePO₄ with olivine-type structure is presented. The material is synthesized through a non-aqueous route in benzyl alcohol assisted by microwave radiation. The LiFePO₄ forms with an anisotropic morphology of microscale stick-like particles. The detailed structure of these particles and their evolution with reaction time is revealed by transmission electron microscopy; a 3D reconstruction of a particle by electron tomography provides insight into the formation mechanism of these sticks. Without applying a thermal post-annealing treatment or a carbon coating, the electrochemical behavior of the LiFePO₄ microsticks is assessed for the preparation of cathodes in lithium-ion batteries.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Multifunctional Materials, Department of Materials, ETH-Zürich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, 8093-Zürich, Switzerland. carriazo@icmm.csic.es
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carriazo
authors.forename: Marta D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rossell
authors.forename: Guobo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Idalia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bilecka
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erni
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niederberger