Enhanced electrochemical performances of LiFePO4-C synthesized with PEG as the grain growth inhibitor for Li-ion capacitors in LiNO3 aqueous electrolyte
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct the synthesization of LiFePO4-C (LFP-C) with fine particle size and enhanced electrochemical performance as the positive electrode material for Li-ion capacitors (LICs) with neutral aqueous electrolyte.
Design/methodology/approach
LFP-C was prepared by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a grain growth inhibitor, and the effects of the calcination temperature and PEG content on the structure and morphology of LFP-C were investigated. LICs using environment-friendly, safe and low-cost LiNO3 aqueous electrolyte were assembled with LFP-C as the positive electrode and active carbon as the negative electrode. The electrochemical performances of LFP-C and LICs were studied.
Findings
The results show that the particle size of LFP-C decreases significantly through the introduction of PEG. Cyclic voltammetry results show that the LFP-C prepared at 550°C with 1.0 g PEG exhibits the highest Cpe of 725 F/g at the scanning rate of 5 mA/s. Compared to LFP prepared without PEG, the electrochemical performance of optimized LFP-C dramatically increases due to the decrease of the particle size. Moreover, the LIC assembled with the optimized LFP-C exhibits excellent electrochemical performances. The LIC maintains about 91.3 per cent of its initial Cps after 200 cycles which shows a good cycling performance.
Research limitations/implications
The LFP-C is the suitable positive electrode material for LICs with neutral aqueous electrolyte. LICs can be used in the field of automobiles and can solve the problems of energy shortage and environmental pollution.
Originality/value
Both the LFP-C with fine particle size and its optimal LIC using environment-friendly, safe and low-cost LiNO3 aqueous electrolyte own good electrochemical performances.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of Natural Science Foundation Committee of China (Grant Number 21206034, 21372067, 51373049), and Outstanding Youth Science Foundation Committee of Heilongjiang University (Grant Number JCL201202).
Citation
Qiu, S., Zhang, X., Li, Y., Sun, T., Wang, C. and Qin, C. (2017), "Enhanced electrochemical performances of LiFePO4-C synthesized with PEG as the grain growth inhibitor for Li-ion capacitors in LiNO3 aqueous electrolyte", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 46 No. 1, pp. 31-39. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-02-2016-0025
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited