High-Voltage LiCoPO4 Cathode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries (A Review)

The state-of-the-art in investigations in the field of cathode materials based on lithium–cobalt double phosphate for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries is surveyed. The specific features of the LiCoPO4 crystal structure, the transfer rate of charge carriers, the main synthetic methods of preparation, and the electrochemical characteristics of LiCoPO4-based cathodes such as discharge capacity, charge–discharge rate, and cyclability are considered. The electrochemical characteristics of lithium-ion batteries based on LiCoPO4 can be considerably improved by using nanosized and composite materials, doping with different cations, and using electrolytes stable at high potentials. The average working potential of LiCoPO4 is ~4.8 V vs. Li/Li+, the discharge capacity at 0.1 С approaches its theoretical value (167 mAh/g).