Enhanced electrochemical performance of carbon-LiMn(1-x)Fe(x)PO(4) nanocomposite cathode for lithium-ion batteries

4V-class olivine C-LiMn1-xFexPO4 (x = 0 and 0.15) are synthesized by ultrasonic pyrolysis followed by ball milling with AB carbon to evaluate the doping effect of iron. The C-LiMn0.85Fe0.15PO4 shows excellent rate capability having discharge capacity of 150 mAh g(-1) at 0.5C-rate and 121 mAh g(-1) at 2C-rate. The capacity retention of the C-LiMn0.85Fe0.15PO4 is 91% after 50 cycles at 55 degrees C whereas C-LiMnPO4 is limited to 87%. The improved electrochemical performance of the C-LiMn0.85Fe0.15PO4 electrode is attributed to the enhanced electrical conductivity caused by tighter binding on the carbon particles with the LiMn0.85Fe0.15PO4 primary particles as well as by the surface coating of carbon on the primary particles. Published by Elsevier B.V.This research was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MEST) (No. 2009-0092780) and grant funded from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) of Korea for the Center for Next Generation Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (No.2009-0063371)