Hydrothermal synthesis of plate-like carbon-coated Li3V2(PO4)3 and its low temperature performance for high power lithium ion batteries

A plate-like carbon-coated Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP/C) powder composed of nanoplates was synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The structure and electrochemical properties of the LVP/C are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and galvanostatic charge–discharge cycling. This LVP/C electrode exhibits good rate performance at room temperature with a specific capacity of 113.8 and 128.8 mAh g−1 at 6 C rate in the voltage range of 3.0–4.3 V and 3.0–4.8 V, respectively. The sample also shows good cycling performance with 91.4% and 85% of capacity retention after 200 cycles at 1 C rate. Even at −20 °C, the plate-like LVP/C delivers a stable cycling performance with a specific capacity of 120.7 mAh g−1, being 95.3% of the capacity at room temperature, and after 80 cycles, the capacity retention is 97.2%.

► Plate-like carbon-coated LVP particles are synthesized by a hydrothermal method. ► High performances of this LVP/C in both 3.0–4.3 V and 3.0–4.8 V are achieved. ► The discharge capacity at even −20 °C is very close (95.3%) to that at 25 °C.