LiVPO4F: The Ideal Lithium-ion Cathode Material?

It is just possible that lithium vanadium fluorophosphate, LiVPO₄F, represents the perfect cathode material choice for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries. Look at some of its characteristics:

1. Excellent Energy Density. The combination of high operating voltage (around 4.2 V vs Li) and specific capacity (theoretical , 155 mAh/g) means that LiVPO₄F based Li-ion cells will have a similar energy density to conventional lithium cobalt oxide based chemistry.

2. Inherent Safety. Accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC) tests of the reactions between delithiated LiVPO₄F and 1 M LiPF₆ EC:DEC electrolyte showed that the thermal stability of LiVPO₄F is even better than LiFePO₄.

3. Cell Lifetimes. Lithium-ion testing of LiVPO₄F shows excellent cycle life behavior. It is predicted that these cells will cycle more than 1000 times while exhibiting less than 20 % capacity fade. This is superior performance to conventional Li-ion chemistry.

4. Material Costs. Both the vanadium raw materials and the preferred synthesis method (carbothermal reduction) are low cost.

5. Large Format. The electrochemical, safety and cost properties of the LiVPO₄F make it ideal for large format applications.

Check out the links below for more details:

doi:10.1016/j.ssi.2006.04.049

10.1016/j.elecom.2008.12.052

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.03.126

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.08.024