LiFePO4/C cathode powders prepared by spray pyrolysis from the colloidal spray solution containing nano-sized carbon black

Carbon-mixed LiFePO4 cathode powders were prepared by spray pyrolysis from a colloidal spray solution. The nano-sized carbon black added into the spray solution as its colloidal seed material affected the morphologies, mean sizes, and electrochemical properties of the LiFePO4 cathode powders. The precursor powders obtained from the aqueous spray solution without carbon black were large and had broad size distributions. On the other hand, the precursor powders obtained from the colloidal spray solution with carbon black were fine and had narrow size distributions. The initial discharge capacity of the LiFePO4 cathode powders obtained from the aqueous spray solution was 94 mAh g−1; it rose to 120 mAh g−1 when 5 wt.% carbon black was added into the spray solution, and then to 136 mAh g−1 when the amount of carbon black added into the solution was increased to 10 wt.% of the LiFePO4 powders. The addition of carbon black into the spray solution improved the cycle performance of the LiFePO4 powders.