《Nano-network electronic conduction in iron and nickel olivine phosphates》.pdfVIP

LETTERS Nano-network electronic conduction in iron and nickel olivine phosphates P. SUBRAMANYA HERLE, B. ELLIS, N. COOMBS AND L. F. NAZAR* University of Waterloo,Department of Chemistry,200 University Ave.West,Waterloo Ontario Canada N2L 3G1 *e-mail:lfnazar@uwaterloo.ca Published online:22 February 2004; doi:10.1038/nmat1063 he provision of efficient electron and ion transport is a critical We find the carbothermal chemistry can be manipulated through issue in an exciting new group of materials based on lithium metal surprisingly subtle variation of the processing conditions and Tphosphates that are important as cathodes for lithium-ion stoichiometry.The nanophase phosphide network that is created in situ batteries. Much interest centres on olivine-type LiFePO4, the most within the grain boundaries of the insulating LiMPO4 nanocrystallites prominent member of this family1. Whereas the one-dimensional forms an efficient electrical conduit that can be directly imaged by lithium-ion mobility in this framework is high2, the electronically transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, metal insulating phosphate groups that benefit the voltage also isolate the phosphates of more easily reduced elements (Ni) in LiNiPO4 undergo redox centres within the lattice. The pristine compound is a very poor carbothermal reduction at lower temperatures, and can be rendered conductor ( –9 –1 conductive through this approach.That electronic transport is first and