Electrochemically assisted growth of LiFePO4 in ionic liquid media

Electrodeposition techniques in aqueous media have so far been widely used in the field of battery research to make either nano-architectured current collectors or electrode materials. Deviating from such an approach we have explored ionic liquid media as electrolytic bath. Here we report the electrochemically-assisted synthesis of LiFePO4 in the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(TriFluoromethaneSulfonyl)imide ([EMIm]TFSI) ionic liquid medium. Electrochemically active LiFePO4 powders with particles size of 500 nm were obtained from the electrolytic ionic liquid bath containing FeCl3 and Li3PO4 by conducting chronoamperometry at 275 °C. Moreover, LiFePO4 thick deposits have also been successfully prepared on a Li3PO4-loaded substrate.

Research Highlights► Electrochemically active LiFePO4 powders, with particles size of 500 m, were obtained via an electrochemically-assisted synthesis in the ionic liquid media. ► LiFePO4 thick deposits have also been successfully prepared on a Li3PO4-loaded substrate.