Low-temperature synthesis of LiFePO(4 )nanocrystals by solvothermal route

LiFePO(4 )nanocrystals were synthesized at a very low temperature of 170°C using carbon nanoparticles by a solvothermal process in a polyol medium, namely diethylene glycol without any heat treatment as a post procedure. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the LiFePO(4 )was indexed well to a pure orthorhombic system of olivine structure (space group: Pnma) with no undesirable impurities. The LiFePO(4 )nanocrystals synthesized at low temperature exhibited mono-dispersed and carbon-mixed plate-type LiFePO(4 )nanoparticles with average length, width, and thickness of approximately 100 to 300 nm, 100 to 200 nm, and 50 nm, respectively. It also appeared to reveal considerably enhanced electrochemical properties when compared to those of pristine LiFePO(4). These observed results clearly indicate the effect of carbon in improving the reactivity and synthesis of LiFePO(4 )nanoparticles at a significantly lower temperature.