LiFePO4‐Accelerated Change in Surface and Electrochemical Properties in Aqueous Systems Induced by Mechanical Agitation

Switching from organic to aqueous solvents for battery electrode processing is desirable due to both safety and cost advantages. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is considered a cathode material for aqueous processing due to its demonstrated chemical compatibility with water, in addition to its favorable cost, safety, electrochemical performance, and environmental advantages as a battery active material. All research on LFP stability in water has been conducted in a scenario where LFP is aged in stagnant water, or surrounded by water when confined within a composite electrode. However, a much accelerated degradation in the electrochemical performance of LFP when it is in contact with water and exposed to mechanical agitation is demonstrated. Changes to LFP are probed using a combination of materials characterization methods. Although there are no significant changes to the bulk particle structure and morphology, significant particle surface damage and compositional modifications are observed. These results suggest that the systems where LFP is exposed to agitation in an aqueous environment, such as in aqueous battery electrode processing or in aqueous slurry electrodes, need to be carefully investigated for potential changes to the LFP surface environment under relevant processing conditions. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is considered a cathode material for aqueous processing due to demonstrated chemical compatibility with water, in addition to favorable cost, safety, electrochemical performance, and environmental advantages. However, this study demonstrates conditions under which a much‐accelerated degradation in the electrochemical performance occurs when the material is in contact with water and exposed to mechanical agitation.