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Multi-core–shell-structured LiFePO4@Na3V2(PO4)3@C composite for enhanced low-temperature performance of lithium-ion batteries

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Abstract

In this work, a multi-core–shell-structured LiFePO4@Na3V2(PO4)3@C (LFP@NVP@C) composite was successfully designed and prepared to address inferior low-temperature performance of LiFePO4 cathode for lithium-ion batteries. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirms the inner NVP and outer carbon layers co-existed on the surface of LFP particle. When evaluated at low-temperature operation, LFP@NVP@C composite exhibits an evidently enhanced electrochemical performance in term of higher capacity and lower polarization, compared with LFP@C. Even at − 10 °C with 0.5C, LFP@NVP@C delivers a discharge capacity of ca. 96.9 mAh·g−1 and discharge voltage of ca. 3.3 V, which is attributed to the beneficial contribution of NVP coating. NASICON-structured NVP with an open framework for readily insertion/desertion of Li+ will effectively reduce the polarization for the electrochemical reactions of the designed LFP@NVP@C composite.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51902036), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Science & Technology Commission (No. cstc2019jcyj-msxm1407), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Technology and Business University (No. 1952009), the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (Nos. KJQN201900826 and KJQN201800808), the Venture & Innovation Support Program for Chongqing Overseas Returnees (No. CX2018129), the Innovation Group of New Technologies for Industrial Pollution Control of Chongqing Education Commission (No. CXQT19023), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (No. EP/S032886/1) and the Key Disciplines of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Chongqing Colleges and Universities during the 13th Five Year Plan.

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Author notes

  1. Xing-Xing Gu and Shuang Qiao contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Catalysis and New Environmental Materials, College of Environment and Resources, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067, China

    Xing-Xing Gu, Xiao-Lei Ren, Xing-Yan Liu & You-Zhou He

  2. GRINM Group Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100088, China

    Shuang Qiao

  3. Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK

    Xing-Xing Gu & Xiao-Teng Liu

  4. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China

    Tie-Feng Liu

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  1. Xing-Xing Gu
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Correspondence to Xing-Xing Gu or Tie-Feng Liu.

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Gu, XX., Qiao, S., Ren, XL. et al. Multi-core–shell-structured LiFePO4@Na3V2(PO4)3@C composite for enhanced low-temperature performance of lithium-ion batteries. Rare Met. 40, 828–836 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-020-01669-x

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