NANOSTRUCTURED POLYANION-BASED CATHODE MATERIALS FOR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY

Abstract

Lithium-ion battery for electrical vehicle applications is expected to be cheaper with safer electrode materials. Commercially available lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) consist of LiCoO2 as cathode and graphite as anode. LiCoO2 being toxic, expensive and unsafe due to oxygen evolution at high rates deserves alternative candidates. Hence, the current thesis work focuses on ways and means of tailoring the properties of high voltage/lithium storage capacity polyanion-based cathode materials to improve the energy density and power density of the LIBs. In this context, two classes of cathode materials namely LiMnPO4 and Li2MnSiO4 were identified as subjects of study. These materials are relatively safe, low cost and offer high energy density compared to LiCoO2.