First-principles study of the structural and electronic properties of LiFePO4 by graphene and N-doped graphene modification

[Display omitted] •Interfacial bonding between LiFePO4 and Nitrogen-doped graphene is stable in the parallel direction.•The electrons are transferred from Li to GN.•The coating and doping systems have better electronic conductivity. Using first-principles calculations within the DFT + U framework, the structural and electronic properties of LiFePO4 (010) surface modified by graphene and N-doped graphene have been investigated. The calculated formation energy indicates that the graphene and N-doped graphene doped on the (010) surface of the LiFePO4(LFP) is energetically favored. N-substitution can significantly increase the impurity bands between the valence-band maximum and the conduction-band minimum, indicating better electro-conductive properties. Atomic Populations indicates that Li+ is more independent in olivine-type LFP crystal and can be embedded and exited in skeleton relatively freely after graphene and N modification.