Hydrothermal Stripping Synthesis of α-LiFeO2 Nanoparticles from Qinghai Salt Lake Brine

Abstract

A simple and green hydrothermal stripping synthesis route has been successfully developed for synthesis of α-LiFeO2 nanoparticles from the organic phase containing Fe (III) and Li (I), which was prepared by mixing Qinghai salt lake brine, industrial FeCl3·6H2O and tributyl phosphate (TBP). The influence of synthesis conditions, such as Li/Fe molar ratio, time and temperature, on the samples was investigated, and spheroidal α-LiFeO2 nanoparticles with diameter of about 150 nm have been synthesized at 210 °C with Li/Fe molar ratio of 30. Qinghai salt lake brine, as an important lithium resource, is supposed to be fully studied and utilized. Here, the application range of salt lake brine was expanded innovatively.