Li-ion conducting glass ceramic (LICGC)/reduced graphene oxide sandwich-like structure composite for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

The requirements for volume and weight performance are becoming more and more urgent for the application of lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics and electric vehicles. Herein, we demonstrate a facial and cost-effective synthesis approach of lithium-ion conducting glass ceramic (LICGC)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite, in which the LICGC particles anchor on the rGO sheets densely and homogenously, forming a sandwich-like structure. The unique feature offers ultrafast Li-ion and electron pathways through the LICGC network and rGO sheets, resulting in the enhancement of the rate and cycle performances for the electrodes. For example, the results show that for LiFePO4 cathode with the polymer electrolyte, the addition of 10 wt% of LICGC/rGO composite achieved the higher rate capability (~122 mAh g−1, discharge at 3 C) and cyclability (~98.2% after 180 cycles at 1 C), compared to add LICGC only (~115 mAh g−1 and ~93.4%, respectively). [Display omitted] •Sandwich-like LICGC-graphene-LICGC was successfully synthesized in one step.•LFP cathode with LICGC-graphene-LICGC shows remarkedly improved performances.•The enhanced performance can be ascribed to the facilitated electron and Li + transport.