Single-Shot Preparation of Crystalline Nanoplate LiFePO4 by a Simple Polyol Route

Nanoplate LiFePO4 is synthesized by a polyol route starting from only two reactants, namely, FePO4 and LiOH. The crystalline compound forms by refluxing a tetraethylene glycol solution consisting of FePO4 and LiOH at 335 degrees C without further heating of the reaction product.The nanoplates have average dimensions of 30 nm width and 160 nm length, as measured from transmission electron microscopy micrographs.The surface area of the LiFePO4 sample is 38 m(2) g(-1). Also, the sample is porous with a broadly distributed pore around 50 nm. The electrodes fabricated out of the nanoplate of LiFePO4 exhibit a high electrochemical activity. Discharge capacity values measured are 160 and 100 mAh g(-1) at 0.15C and 3.45C, respectively. A stable capacity of about 155 mAh g(-1) is measured at 0.2C over a 50 charge-discharge cycle. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3425730] All rights reserved.