Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Lithium Iron(II) Phosphate Modified Cooperatively via Chemically Reduced Graphene Oxide and Polyaniline

Highlights: •LiFePO₄ was modified cooperatively with reduced graphene oxide and PANI •LiFePO₄/ reduced graphene oxide /PANI composites showed unique 3D network structures •The composites exhibited enhanced electrochemical performances as cathode •The enhanced property is from unique structure and inherent properties of components -- Abstract: It is essential to improve the electron and lithium ion conductivities of Lithium iron(II) phosphate (LiFePO₄) used as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. In the work, we designed and fabricated a series of composites of LiFePO₄ modified cooperatively with chemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and polyaniline. It was demonstrated that the composites have a three dimensional network structures in which the CRGO and the polyaniline were intertwined and coated uniformly on the surface of LiFePO₄. Comparably, as cathode for lithium-ion batteries, the as-prepared composites showed better electrochemical performances than the bare LiFePO₄ and the LiFePO₄ modified simply with CRGO or polyaniline alone. The elaboration of the underneath mechanism on the pronounced electrochemical properties of the composites was also attempted and discussed