A rapid, one-pot microwave-solvothermal synthesis of a hierarchical nanostructured graphene/LiFePO4 hybrid as a high performance cathode for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

One-pot, graphene/LiFePO₄ nanohybrids have been synthesized by a novel microwave-solvothermal (MW-ST) process. The microwave assisted process proceeds rapidly, enabling the decoration of LiFePO₄ nanorods on graphene nanosheets (GNS) within 15 min at temperature <300 °C without requiring any inert atmosphere or post annealing at elevated temperatures in reducing gas atmosphere. The resulting nanohybrid is characterized by powder XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy and TEM measurements. The application potential of the nanohybrid as a cathode material for lithium ion batteries is also demonstrated, where the electrode material exhibits a discharge capacity of (∼164 mA h g⁻¹) at C/10 rate, which is close to the theoretical capacity 170 mA h g⁻¹.