Improved electrochemical performance of LiFePO4/C for lithium-ion batteries with two kinds of carbon sources

In order to improve the electrochemical performance of LiFePO4, LiFePO4/C composite was synthesized via solid-state reaction with two kinds of carbon sources: carbon sol–gel and glucose. The structure and electrochemical properties of the LiFePO4/C composite were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, cyclic voltammetry(CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge. The results indicate that carbon adding has no effect on the phase of LiFePO4. The LiFePO4/C shows higher discharge capacity than pure LiFePO4 and an excellent rate property, as carbon network improves the electron conductivity of LiFePO4 significantly. It presents a discharge specific capacity of 162 mAh/g at both 0.1 C and 0.2 C rates and 157 mAh/g at 1 C rate.