title: Optimizing LiFePO₄@C core-shell structures via the 3-aminophenol-formaldehyde polymerization for improved battery performance.
abstract: Polyanion-type cathode materials are well-known for their low electronic conductivity; accordingly, the addition of conductive carbon in the cathode materials becomes an indispensable step for their application in lithium ion batteries. To maximize the contribution of carbon, a core-shell structure with a full coverage of carbon should be favorable due to an improved electronic contact between different particles. Here, we report the formation of a uniform carbon nanoshell on a typical cathode material, LiFePO4, with the shell thickness precisely defined via the 3-aminophenol-formaldehyde polymerization process. In addition to the higher discharge capacity and the improved rate capability as expected from the carbon nanoshell, we identified that the core-shell configuration could lead to a much safer cathode material as revealed by the obviously reduced iron dissolution, much less heat released during the cycling, and better cyclability at high temperature.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Beijing 100190, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zi-xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xu-sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fu-quan
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ji-tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: An-min
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Li-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wan
keywords: carbon coating; cathode materials; core−shell structure; iron dissolution; lithium ion batteries