title: Morphology-controlled synthesis of self-assembled LiFePO4/C/RGO for high-performance Li-ion batteries.
abstract: Novel architectured LiFePO4 (LFP) that consisted of ordered LFP nanocubes was prepared through a facile hydrothermal method using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a surfactant. The micro/nanostructured LFP with various morphologies ranging from cube cluster to rugby-like structure was synthesized via controlling the pH values of the precursor. A reasonable assembly process elucidating the formation of the hierarchical structure is also provided based on the experimental results. After a combination of carbon (C) coating and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) wrapping, the obtained LFP/C/RGO composites exhibit enhanced electrochemical performance compared to that of blank LFP synthesized under the same condition. Among as-synthesized cube-cluster-like, dumbbell-like, rod-like, and rugby-like composites, the rugby-like LFP/C/RGO reveal the best electrochemical properties with the discharge specific capacity of ∼150 mA h g(-1) after 100 cycles and a high reversible specific capacity of 152 mA h g(-1) at 0.1 C. The prepared LFP/C/RGO composite can be a promising cathode material for high energy, low cost, and environmentally friendly lithium-ion batteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics and Materials Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bolei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kifung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Helen Lai Wa
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jikang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
keywords: Li-ion batteries; LiFePO4; hydrothermal; reduced graphene oxide; self-assembled