The morphology controlled synthesis of 3D networking LiFePO4 with multiwalled-carbon nanotubes for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

3D hierarchical LiFePO₄ particles networked with electronically conducting multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) including particle-like nanoparticles, shuttle-like nanoparticles and disk-like nanoparticles have been prepared by the hydrothermal method approach. The particle morphology, crystal orientation, and electrochemical reactivity of the prepared LiFePO₄/MWCNT particles can be tailored by varying the P source. Among the as-prepared LiFePO₄ materials, the disk-like crystal has a large facet in the ac-plane and the shortest transfer distance in the b axis. The disk-like crystal shows the most excellent performance, with the capacity reaching 168.3 mAh g⁻¹ at a rate of 0.1 C and 121.5 mAh g⁻¹ at 30 C. No obvious capacity deterioration density was observed after 200 charge–discharge cycles and it also has an advantage in terms of a high energy density due to a comparable high tap density, implying that it is a promising candidate for next-generation high-power lithium ion batteries.