Rapid synthesis of LiFePO4/C composite by microwave method

A highly crystalline LiFePO4/C phase was successfully synthesized by a microwave irradiation method in 4 min. SEM and particle size analysis indicate that the particle size of resulting LiFePO4/C is much smaller than that of the solid-state derived sample and that it mostly distributes in the range of 160–600 nm. Cycling tests show that the sample prepared by microwave method can deliver 150 mAh g− 1 at 17 mA g− 1(0.1C). Further AC impedance measurements reveal that the LiFePO4 electrode can be well activated after the first cycle as reflected by the dramatic decrease in the charge transfer resistance.