文摘
Lithium cobalt phosphate, LiCoPO<sub>4sub>, has attracted much attention as a high voltage cathode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Since this material suffers from very low ion and electron conductivities, the composite structure made with nano-sized LiCoPO<sub>4sub> and carbon can be effectively used as a cathode material. Here, we report a simple mechanical synthesis route for preparing LiCoPO<sub>4sub>/C composite granules. The raw materials for LiCoPO<sub>4sub> and carbon were mechanically treated with an attrition-type mill for producing LiCoPO<sub>4sub>/C composite granules using a one-step process without employing external heating. With an increase in the amount of carbon used, the primary particle size of LiCoPO<sub>4sub> and the median size of granules were decreased. The first discharge capacity obtained for the LiCoPO<sub>4sub>/C prepared with 5 mass% carbon was 105 mA h g<sup>−1sup>, whereas a value of up to 134 mA h g<sup>−1sup> was obtained for the composite with 10 mass% carbon. We examined the effect of carbon addition on the mechanical synthesis and characteristics of LiCoPO<sub>4sub> powders.