Growth of LiFePO4 nanoplatelets with orientated (010) facets on graphene for fast lithium storage

• The growth of LiFePO4 nanoplatelets with orientated (010) facets on graphene has been realized via a novel solvothermal route.
• Ethylene glycol is employed for tuning the crystal orientation of LiFePO4 and reducing graphene oxide to graphene.
• This work demonstrates an approach to combining the important properties of graphene with desired facet of LiFePO4 for fast lithium storage.

Both electron transfer and Li-ion diffusion are the key factors limiting rapid lithium storage in anisotropic LiFePO4 electrode materials. In this work, graphenes were used to in situ anchor LiFePO4 nanoplatelets (LFP NPs) with orientated (010) facets to prepare a unique LiFePO4–graphene composite (LFP@GNs). Electron microscope images revealed the nanoplatelet morphology of LiFePO4 crystals as well as the graphene crossed-linked structure of LFP@GNs. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy results demonstrated the orientated growth of LFP nanoplatelets along the ac-facet. LFP@GNs exhibited a superior rate capability with a discharge capacity of 126 mAh g−1 at 20C, as well as an excellent cycling stability without capacity fading after 600 cycles at 10C.