Enhancement of LiFePO4 (LFP) Electrochemical PerformanceTthrough the Insertion of Coconut Shell Derived rGO – Like Carbon as Cathode of Li-ion Battery

Abstract

In this study, an rGO – like carbon (C) compound was synthesized from coconut shell (biomass), and inserted into LiFePO4 (LFP), as Li-ion battery cathode. Thus, an LFP/C nanocomposite was successfully fabricated using a combination of the sol-gel technique and mechanical ultracentrifugation. LiFePO4 precursors were prepared from commercial starting materials, using the sol-gel technique, and the composites’ carbon weight content was varied between 15% and 30%. Subsequently, the microstructural characteristics and electrochemical properties as cathode for Li-ion batteries were measured. In addition to exhibiting higher electrical conductivity, the synthesized LFP/C nanocomposite showed higher capacity and better cycle capability. Also, the nanocomposite cathode showed a specific capacity of 128 mAhg-1 in the first cycle, and a retention capacity of 75% after 10 cycles, at room temperature and a rate of 0.1 C. The enhanced electrical conductivity and electrochemical performance of the samples prepared are believed to be due to three-dimensional conduction network formed by the rGO like carbon sheets, as observed by electron microscopy.