Synthesis of Fe2P coated LiFePO4 nanorods with enhanced Li-storage performance

In this investigation, we propose a facile hydrogen plasma technique to fabricate Fe2P coated LiFePO4 (LiFePO4–Fe2P) nanorods. Different from conventional solid synthesis at high temperature (ca. 800 °C), Fe2P can generate on the LiFePO4 surface at 500 °C under hydrogen plasma condition, avoiding the aggregation of LiFePO4 particles. Benefit from the high conductive Fe2P phase and the nano-sized structure, the LiFePO4–Fe2P nanorods show an enhanced electronic conductivity and high ion diffusion rate. When used in lithium ion battery, an improved capacity and rate performance, much higher than that of pure LiFePO4, can be obtained.