One-pot coating of LiCoPO/C by a UiO-66 metal-organic framework

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 1; no. 58; pp. 3526 - 35213
• Main Authors: Aboraia, Abdelaziz M, Shapovalov, Viktor V, Guda, Alexnader A, Butova, Vera V, Soldatov, Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 23.09.2020
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/d0ra05706a

LiCoPO 4 (LCP) is a promising high voltage cathode material but suffers from low conductivity and poor electrochemical properties. These properties can be improved by coating with a conductive carbon layer. Ongoing research is focused on the protective layer with good adhesion and inhibition of electrolyte decomposition reactions. In the present work, we suggest a new robust one-pot procedure, featuring the introduction of UiO-66 metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles during LCP synthesis to create a metal-carbon layer upon annealing. The LiCoPO 4 /C@UiO-66 was synthesized via the microwave-assisted solvothermal route, and 147 mA h g −1 discharge capacity was obtained in the first cycle. The MOF acts as a source of both carbon and metal atoms, which improves conductivity. Using operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy upon cycling, we identify two Co-related phases in the sample and exclude the olivine structure degradation as an explanation for a long-term capacity fade. LiCoPO 4 (LCP) is a promising high voltage cathode material but suffers from low conductivity and poor electrochemical properties.