Controllable synthesis of Li3PO4 hollow nanospheres for the preparation of high performance LiFePO4 cathode material

Lithium phosphate hollow nanospheres were prepared in a membrane dispersion microreactor using aqueous phosphoric acid and lithium hydroxide solutions as reactants. The influences of reactant flow rate ratio and temperature on the purity and morphology of the prepared nanospheres were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that nanospheres prepared in the continuous flow condition had a hollow interior structure with high crystallinity. A possible mechanism for the formation of this hollow structured Li 3 PO 4 was also proposed. Using Li 3 PO 4 hollow nanospheres as the precursor, LiFePO 4 hollow nanospheres were successfully synthesized via a solvothermal route in ethylene glycol. After coating with carbon, the LiFePO 4 /C hollow nanospheres exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, especially at high rates, and could discharge124   mAh/g at 10   C, and even 98   mAh/g at 40   C.