Effects of Nd-doping on the structure and electrochemical properties of Li3V2(PO4)3/C synthesized using a microwave solid-state route

• Nd-doped Li3V2(PO4)3/C is successfully prepared via a microwave solid-state route.
• Nd-doping can effectively improve the electrochemical properties of Li3V2(PO4)3/C.
• Nd-doping is an effective way to modify the properties of Li3V2(PO4)3/C.

Nd-doped Li3V2 − xNdx(PO4)3/C (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08) cathode materials are successfully and fast synthesized by a microwave solid-state route. The effects of Nd-doping on the structure and electrochemical properties of Li3V2(PO4)3/C are investigated. Compared with the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the undoped sample, these Nd-doped samples have no extra reflections, which indicate that Nd enters the structure of the Li3V2(PO4)3/C cathode. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that Nd-substitution in Li3V2(PO4)3/C has regular and uniform particles. According to the results of charge/discharge measurements at 0.1 C rate, the initial capacities of the Nd-doped samples are all higher than that of the undoped sample which is 140 mAh g− 1. Among all the doped samples, Li3V1.96Nd0.04(PO4)3/C shows the best rate capability and cycling stability. The initial discharge capacity of Li3V1.96Nd0.04(PO4)3/C is 157 mAh g− 1 with the capacity retention ratio of 92.5% after 50 cycles at 0.1 C. Especially, it still shows a high discharge capacity of 126 mAh g− 1 even at a higher rate of 5.0 C. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) reveals that the charge transfer resistance of as-prepared samples is reduced through Nd-substitution and its reversibility is enhanced as proved by the cyclic voltammograms (CV). The improved electrochemical properties of Nd-doped Li3V2(PO4)3/C can be attributed to the optimizing particle size and structural stability due to the proper amount of Nd-doping in V sites.