Carbon supported, Al doped-Li3V2(PO4)3 as a high rate cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

A high rate and high performance Li3V2(PO4)(3) cathode was prepared by applying a carbon coating and Al substitution using the conventional solid-state approach. X-Ray diffraction was used to observe the structural properties of the synthesized powders. The presence of the carbon coating was confirmed by HR-TEM and reflected well with the Raman analysis. The Li/C-Li3V1.98Al0.02(PO4)(3) cell displayed a discharge capacity of 182 mA h g(-1) between 3 and 4.8 V vs. Li at a current density of 0.1 mA cm(-1), which is similar to 20 mA h g(-1) higher than that of the native compound. The capacity retention was found to be 84 and 74% after 40 and 100 cycles, respectively. The C-Li3V1.98Al0.02(PO4)(3) powders demonstrated excellent rate performance at 20 C with a discharge capacity of similar to 120 mA h g(-1) over 100 cycles. The elevated temperature performance was also evaluated and found to be similar to that under room temperature conditions.