Several LiFePO 4 /C composites were prepared and characterized electrochemically in lithium half-cells. Pressed-pellet conductivities correlated well with the electrochemical performance in lithium half-cells. It was found that carbon structural factors such as sp 2 /sp 3 and disordered/graphene ͑D/G͒, as determined by Raman spectroscopy, and H/C ratios determined from elemental analysis influenced the conductivity and rate behavior strongly. The structure of the residual carbon could be manipulated through the use of additives during LiFePO 4 synthesis. Increasing the pyromellitic acid ͑PA͒ content in the precursor mix prior to calcination resulted in a significant lowering of the D/G ratio and a concomitant rise in the sp 2 /sp 3 ratio of the carbon. Addition of both iron nitrate and PA resulted in higher sp 2 /sp 3 ratios without further lowering the D/G ratios or increasing carbon contents. The best electrochemical results were obtained for LiFePO 4 processed with both ferrocene and PA. The improvement is attributed to better decomposition of the carbon sources, as evidenced by lower H/C ratios, a slight increase of the carbon content ͑still below 2 wt %͒, and more homogeneous coverage.

Recent advances in the development of chiral derivatizing and solvating agents that facilitate the determination of enantiomeric excess and absolute configuration are reviewed. These include metal-containing species, host-guest systems, donor-acceptor compounds, and liquid crystal discriminating agents. In the aggregate, these reagents can be used to analyze a wide range of compound classes.

The electrochemical performance of LiFePO 4 in lithium cells is strongly dependent on the structure (disordered/graphene or D/G ratio) of the in situ carbon produced during synthesis from carbon-containing precursors. Addition of pyromellitic acid (PA) prior to final calcination results in lower D/G ratios, yielding a higher-rate material. Further improvements in electrochemical performance are realized when graphitization catalysts such as ferrocene are also added during LiFePO 4 preparation, although overall carbon content is still less than 2 wt. %.