Physicochemical properties of lithium iron phosphate-carbon as lithium polymer battery cathodes

SUMMARY Lithium iron phosphate‐carbon (LiFePO4/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)) composite cathode materials were prepared by a hydrothermal method. In this study, we used MWCNTs as conductive additive. Poly (vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene)‐based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) was applied. The structural and morphological performance of LiFePO4/MWCNTs cathode materials was investigated by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/mapping. The electrochemical properties of Li/SPE/LiFePO4‐MWCNTs coin‐type polymer batteries were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance and galvanostatic charge/discharge tests. Li/SPE/LiFePO4‐MWCNTs polymer battery with 5 wt % MWCNTs demonstrates the highest discharge capacity and stable cyclability at room temperature. It is indicated that LiFePO4‐MWCNTs can be used as the cathode materials for lithium polymer batteries. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.