Fabrication of LiFePO4/carbon composites by glass powder crystallization processing and their battery performance

The glass powder crystallization processing is proposed to fabricate LiFePO4/carbon composites, in which the mixture of glass (33.3Li2O–33.3Fe2O3–33.3P2O5) powders and glucose or graphite was heat-treated at 560 ~ 800 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. It is confirmed from an X-ray diffraction analysis and Raman scattering spectrum measurements that the glass crystallization is taking place together with the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ and LiFePO4/carbon composites showing electrical conductivities of ~ 10−3 Scm− 1 are formed. The LiFePO4 glass-ceramics shows the voltage of 3.5 V and capacity of ~95 mAh/g. It is proposed that this new simple process has a potential for the fabrication of LiFePO4/carbon composites.