Spectroscopic characterization of LiFePO4 as cathode material for Li-ion battery prepared in the pulse thermo-acoustic reactor

Abstract

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is a cathode material for the rechargeable-lithium batteries. In this paper is presented a novel method of fabrication carbon-coated LiFePO4 in a pilot reactor built according to the principles of the thermo-acoustic burner of Helmholtz-type. Crystalline powder with a high percentage of LiFePO4 was synthesized by incomplete combustion, i.e. in the reductive atmosphere, and calcined at 700?C for 6 h. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the production of the high-quality lithium-ion cathode material by the incomplete combustion. The synthesis of LiFePO4 is completed during calcination and an ordered structure is attained. Fast synthesis in the reactor (less than 2 s) is achieved due to the reduction in the size of reactant's particles and a huge number of collisions owing to their strong turbulent flow associated with explosive combustion.