Highly electroactive nanosized α-LiFeO2

We obtained pure nanosized α-LiFeO2 by a simple and quick method involving the reaction between goethite, lithium hydroxide and lithium nitrate at temperatures as low as 523 K. Unlike the known limited electrochemical activity of this polymorph, cells based on our nanosized electrode provided a remarkable high capacity in the first cycles and showed a good cycling life, due to its nanosized character and adequate morphology to enhance lithium insertion/deinsertion. Capacity values when cycling in the 1.5–4.5 V range are up to 150 mAh g−1 in the 50th cycle. To our knowledge, the capacity values and its retention upon cycling are the best reported for this polymorph in an un-doped state.