Hydrothermal Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C-Based Composites for Lithium-Ion Batteries

To improve performance at higher rates, we developed a hydrothermal method to prepare carbon-coated monoclinic lithium vanadium phosphate (Li(3)V(2)(PO(4))(3)) powder to be used as a cathode material for Li-ion batteries. The structural, morphological and electrochemical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and galvanostatic charge-discharge cycling. A superior cycle and rate behavior are demonstrated for Li(3)V(1.85)Sc(0.15)(PO(4))(3)/C and Li(2.96)Ca(0.02)V(2)(PO(4))(3)/C electrodes at charge-discharge current rates above 5C.