Enhancement of Electrochemical Performance of LiFePO4@C by Ga Coating

Abstract

LiFePO4 (LFP) is one of the cathode materials widely used in lithium ion batteries at present, but its electronic conductivity is still unsatisfactory, which will affect its electrochemical performance. Ga-coated LiFePO4@C (LFP@C) samples were prepared by a hydrothermal method and ultrasonic dispersion technology. Ga has good electrical conductivity and can rapidly conduct electrons within the LFP cathode material under the synergistic effect with C coating, thus improving the dynamic performance of the LFP cathode material. The experimental results show that LFP@C/Ga samples exhibit good electrochemical performance. Compared with the pristine LFP@C, the 1.0 wt % Ga-coated LFP@C cathode exhibits excellent discharge capacity and cycle stability. The former shows a discharge capacity of 152.6 mA h g-1 at 1 C after 100 cycles and a discharge capacity retention rate of 98.77%, while pristine LFP@C shows only a discharge capacity of 114.5 mA h g-1 and a capacity retention rate of 95.84% after 100 cycles at 1 C current density.