Fabrication and Characterization of Spherical Carbon-Coated Li3V2(PO4)3 Cathode Material by Hydrothermal Method with Reducing Agent

Spherical $Li_3V_2(PO_4)_3$ (LVP) and carbon-coated LVP with a monoclinic phase for the cathode materials are synthesized by a hydrothermal method using $N_2H_4$ as the reducing agent and saccharose as the carbon source. The results show that single phase monoclinic LVP without impurity phases such as $LiV(P_2O_7)$, $Li(VO)(PO_4)$ and $Li_3(PO_4)$ can be obtained after calcination at $800^{\circ}C$ for 4 h. SEM and TEM images show that the particle sizes are $0.5{\sim}2{\mu}m$ and the thickness of the amorphous carbon layer is approximately 3~4 nm. CV curves for the test cell are recorded in the potential ranges of 3.0~4.3 V and 3.0~4.8 V at a scan rate of $0.01mV\;s^{-1}$ and at room temperature. At potentials between 3.0 and 4.8 V, the third $Li^+$ ions from the carbon-coated LVP can be completely extracted, at voltages close to 4.51 V. The carbon-coated LVP exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of $118mAh\;g^{-1}$ in the voltage region of 3.0 to 4.3 V at a current rate of 0.2 C. The results indicate that the reducing agent and carbon source can affect the crystal structure and electrochemical properties of the cathode materials.