Direct view on the phase evolution in individual LiFePO4 nanoparticles during Li-ion battery cycling.

ABSTRACT: Phase transitions in Li-ion electrode materials during (dis)charge are decisive for battery performance, limiting high-rate capabilities and playing a crucial role in the cycle life of Li-ion batteries. However, the difficulty to probe the phase nucleation and growth in individual grains is hindering fundamental understanding and progress. Here we use synchrotron microbeam diffraction to disclose the cycling rate-dependent phase transition mechanism within individual particles of LiFePO4, a key Li-ion electrode material. At low (dis)charge rates well-defined nanometer thin plate-shaped domains co-exist and transform much slower and concurrent as compared with the commonly assumed mosaic transformation mechanism. As the (dis)charge rate increases phase boundaries become diffuse speeding up

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4597332 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature