A new rapid synthesis technique for electrochemically active materials used in energy storage applications

LiFePO4 is a promising environmentally friendly and low cost alternative cathode material for use in lithium-ion batteries. The most common materials production process used to manufacture LiFePO4 is solid-state synthesis which entails several grinding and recalcination steps, occurring over many hours. We report on the synthesis of crystalline LiFePO4 in only 10 min via a versatile process of Electric discharge assisted mechanical milling (EDAMM). Preliminary electrochemical testing of the synthesized powder demonstrates good capacity and excellent cyclability. The EDAMM technique offers an exciting opportunity to synthesize a range of new and existing materials to be used in a variety of energy storage applications that include rechargeable lithium batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and supercapacitors.