High-Rate Capable Full-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery based on a Conversion Anode and an Intercalation Cathode

Porous Fe2O3 nanostructures are synthesized by using a simple polyol method and used as an anode along with commercial-grade LiCoO2 as the cathode to study full-cell lithium-ion battery applications. The half-cell performance of Fe2O3 exhibits a high reversible capacity of 903mAh/g at 1C rate. Commercial LiCoO2 also delivers a stable capacity of 131mAh/g at 1C rate after 50 cycles. A full cell is constructed by using Fe2O3 anode and LiCoO2 cathode, and the mass loadings are adjusted such that no pre-activation is required. The as-constructed LiCoO2-Fe2O3 full cell exhibits a stable capacity of 800mAh/g (capacity based on anode mass) at 1C after 100 charge-discharge cycles with 91% capacity retention. The rate capability test shows that the full cell is high rate capable and could withstand high currents up to 5C. A pouch cell (300mAh, 3V nominal voltage) is constructed with Fe2O3 anode and LiCoO2 cathode, and is demonstrated to power a solar study lamp (aimed for rural application) and an ultra-bright LED array (50 ultra-bright LEDs, with 3V and 50mA ratings for a single LED).