A practical and effective strategy for the thin and uniform carbon layer onto LiCoPO4 cathode surface in terms of the rate capability and cycle stability

•Structural, morphological and electrochemical properties of LiCoPO4/C electrodes are investigated.•Cheap and simple microwave & solvothermal approach is used.•After 80th cycle, capacity retention is almost 91% for LiCoPO4/C electrode.•Tannic acid was used as carbon source and its unique effects were revealed.

Nanoscale pure LiCoPO4 and LiCoPO4/C materials were successfully synthesized as excellent quality cathode materials for high-voltage and high energy density lithium-ion applications. These materials are simply produced by combined magnetron power and the solvothermal method followed by heat treatment. Analyses show that distribution of a surface coated with carbon, 5–7 nm thickness by tannic acid and nanostructured LiCoPO4/C cathode exhibits a higher and stable reversible capacity (155.2 mAh g−1) with the long voltage plateau nearly 4.8 V. Furthermore, this cathode exhibits capacity retention as 91% after 80 cycles and this value makes it one of the highest of those reported to date. The LiCoPO4/C electrode is produced simultaneously under high pressure and using microwave energy and this has an influence on excellent cycling behavior. The obtained results prove that a production dynamics in nano-synthesis and coating process with proper carbon source reveal parameters to synthesis favorable cathode materials.

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