Abstract

Lithium iron phosphate LiFePO4 (LFP) has been selected as one of the positive electrode material of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and more generally for high-power applications, owing to its thermal and structural stability in the fully charged state, its little hygroscopicity and its exceptional high-rate performance [1]. This material exhibits a relatively large specific capacity even at high C-rate (close to the theoretical value of 170 mAhg-1) compared with other iron-based compounds. This is because LFP has a well-developed crystalline lattice (olivine-like, orthorhombic structure, Pnma space group) with homogeneous particle size (<500nm), purity and physical properties that greatly influence the electrochemical performance of this electrode material.