Biotemplated fabrication of a novel hierarchical porous C/LiFePO4/C composite for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Hierarchical porous composites are a potentially attractive material for high-rate cathode. This work presents a facile sol–gel process for the fabrication of a hierarchical porous C/LiFePO₄/bio-C composite by using artemia cyst shells as natural biological carbon templates. The C/LiFePO₄/bio-C composite exhibits a superior electrochemical performance with discharge capacities of 105 mA h g⁻¹, 93 mA h g⁻¹ and 80 mA h g⁻¹ at 5 C, 10 C and 20 C, respectively. Remarkably, it produces a high discharge capacity of 69.1 mA h g⁻¹ and no fading after 50 cycles even at a high current density of 6800 mA g⁻¹.