Optimized LiVOPO4 for cathodes in Li-ion rechargeable batteries

Improvement of the rate properties of orthorhombic LiVOPO4 by using a milling approach and acetylene black additives as electronic binder is investigated. The average particle size of orthorhombic LiVOPO4 was reduced from 12.0 mu m to 6.1 mu m by milling process by which the Li intercalation capacity into LiVOPO4, increased to 40 mAhg(-1) at 0.4 mAcm(-2) (C/5). At an optimized acetylene black amount of 15 wt.%, a better uniformity in particle size distribution and dispersion of the current distribution was obtained. Thus, enhancing the kinetic performance a fairly large reversible intercalation capacity of Li was achieved with values of 100 and 60 mAhg(-1) at high rate conditions of C/5 (0.4 mAcm(-2)) and 1C (2 mAcm(-2)), respectively.