Improvement of electrochemical performance for Li3V2(PO4)3/C electrode using LiCoO2 as an additive

• The electrochemical performance of Li3V2(PO4)3/C is improved via a simple way.
• LiCoO2 is beneficial to the electrochemical performance of Li3V2(PO4)3/C composite.
• The Li3V2(PO4)3/LiCoO2/C electrode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance.
• Modifying the fabrication of LVP electrode improves its electrochemical performance.
• The modifying method is different from the methods previously reported for LVP.

A Li3V2(PO4)3/C (LVP/C) electrode and a new Li3V2(PO4)3/C electrode using LiCoO2 as an additive (LVP/LCO/C) have been successfully fabricated and investigated via physical and electrochemical methods. Compared with the LVP/C electrode, the LVP/LCO/C electrode presents better rate capability and cyclic performance in the range 3.0–4.3 V. For the LVP/LCO/C electrode, the largest capacities of 99.3 and 68.0 mAh g−1 are delivered at 1 and 15 C charge rates and 51 C discharge rate, respectively. 80.4% of the largest value is kept at 1 C charge and 51 C discharge rates in the 800th cycle. The excellent rate capability and cyclic performance are attributed to the small crystallite size of LVP particles, the small particles, narrow particle size distribution in the LVP/LCO/C electrode, large specific surface area and pore size, low electrical resistance for the LVP/LCO/C electrode, and the existence of the other electroactive LCO.