Synthesis by Spark Plasma Sintering: A new way to obtain electrode materials for lithium ion batteries

In the search of high-performance materials for lithium ion batteries, Li2CoPO4F offers many advantages like high theoretical capacity and high operating potential. The synthesis of Li2CoPO4F has been reinvestigated considering a conventional solid state reaction and an unconventional way. Due to the long heat-treatments required by the conventional approach, a beginning of grains coalescence is observed. Limiting particles growth has been allowed by a shorter reaction done by SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering). By this method, the synthesis of Li2CoPO4F was greatly shortened (from 10 h to 9 min), which favours the getting of submicrometric particles. The comparison of the electrochemical properties of the Li2CoPO4F obtained by the different ways confirms the advantages of SPS synthesis in performance enhancement.