Template-free synthesis of porous–LiFePO4/C nanocomposite for high power lithium-ion batteries

•Porous–LiFePO4/C (porous–LFP/C) nanocomposites have been synthesized without templates or surfactants.•The porous–LFP/C performed well even at 30 C (83 mAh g−1) with the 91% of initial capacity after 1000 cycles.•This experimental has the advantage of simple synthesis steps, shorten experimental period, and easy repetition of the process.

LiFePO4 electrode material with large specific surface area and porous structure can achieve high energy and power capabilities, but current synthesis method is relatively complicated. Here, we report a facile synthesis of porous–LiFePO4/C (porous–LFP/C) nanocomposites, which require no templates or surfactants. The synthesized porous–LFP/C material possesses outstanding morphology with nano-sized, spherical particles, a desirable core–shell structure with uniform carbon film on the surface of LiFePO4 and with a specific surface area of 29.9 m2 g−1. The as-obtained porous–LFP/C nanocomposites show excellent rate capability and cycling stability. It delivers a discharge capacity of 143 and 126 mAh g−1 at 5 C and 10 C rates, respectively, and exhibits desirable capacity retention after 500 cycles. Remarkably, it performed well even at 30 C (83 mAh g−1) with the 91% of initial capacity after 1000 cycles.