Electrochemical performance of the chalcopyrite CuFeS2 as cathode for lithium ion battery

Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 was synthesized by solvothermal process. It was used as active species to prepare cathode of lithium ion batteries together with some conducting materials. Electrochemical performance of the assembled Li/CuFeS2 batteries was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and discharging test. Our results proved that CuFeS2 as a new cathode material showed room-temperature specific discharging capacity of 1100 mAh g−1 at a current density of 14 mA g−1, and that its specific discharging capacity was higher than 500 mAh g−1 at a current density of 350 mA g−1. Different from what reported by Eda et al., the discharging curves presented two apparent plateaus, which were related to different cathode reactions, in the whole measured temperature range.

► Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 in the form of hexagonal plate was synthesized by solvothermal method.
► The prepared CuFeS2 was used as the cathode active species for lithium-ion batteries.
► The CuFeS2 showed specific discharging capacity of 1100 mAh g−1 at room temperature.
► The CuFeS2 presented two apparent discharging plateaus in the whole measured temperature range.