Electrochemical Properties of LiFePO₄ Cathode Materials Coated with Newly Developed Carbon Black

Abstract

A new type of carbon black CB1 was developed, by Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd., for usage of a lithium-ion battery (LIB). Compared with commercially available acetylene black, CB1 in which the network structure of carbon is developed has a relatively larger specific surface area. Therefore, CB1 dispersed in LiFePO₄ precursors by planetary ball milling inhibited LiFePO₄ primary particles’ growth during calcination process. Charge/discharge performance was improved by coexistence of CB1 with polystyrene (PS) carbon layers deposited on LiFePO₄ particle surfaces, compared to the performance for the LiFePO₄ sample covered with carbon layers derived from only PS.