In situ synthesis of biocarbon coated Li3V2(PO4)3 cathode material using lotus leaf as carbon source

Biocarbon coated Li3V2(PO4)(3) cathode material was fabricated using lotus leaf as carbon source by sol gel method. Through the electrostatic interaction between cations and the hydrophilic groups on the surface of the lotus leaf powder, the self-assembling of Li+, VO2+ and V3+ cations was carried out on the surface of lotus leaf powder. The as prepared Li3V2(PO4)(3) particles were coated with a carbon layer (about 5 nm). The lithium ion diffusion coefficient of Li3V2(PO4)(3) was improved by carbon layer greatly. Compared with pure Li3V2(PO4)(3), the Li3V2(PO4)(3)/C composite delivered a high initial discharge capacity of 130.4 mAh g(-1) under the current rate of 0.1 C, and showed a high and stable cycling performance under the current rate of 10 C. The coulombic efficiency very close to 99 %. The initial discharge capacity is 107.3 mAh g(-1) at 10 C. Even at the 200th cycle, it can still deliver a discharge capacity of 106. 7 mAh g(-1).