Carbon-Nanotube-Decorated Nano-LiFePO4 @C Cathode Material with Superior High-Rate and Low-Temperature Performances for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Since the pioneering work of Goodenough and co-workers, [ 1 ] olivine-structured lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 ) has been extensively studied as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for on-board energy storage in electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), [ 2 ] as well as for stationary energy storage for wind and solar energy. [ 3 ] These studies originate from its numerous appealing advantages, such as intrinsic thermal stability, environmental benignity, low cost, and high theoretical capacity (170 mA h g-1 ). [ 4 ] However, its insulating nature and sluggish kinetics of both electron and lithium-ion transport seriously limit its high-rate and lowtemperature properties, which are precisely the requirements for these types of applications.© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim.