Olivine-type nanoparticle for hybrid supercapacitors

LiCoPO₄ nanoparticles were precipitated from polyethylene glycol solution of lithium acetate, cobalt acetate, and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate by refluxing at 250 °C for 35 h. The resultant powder samples were heated at 800 °C for different time periods of 2 and 4 h to study the effect of annealing time on the growth of samples. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the obtained samples exhibited olivine phase. The scanning electron microscopic images of dried powder sample and samples heated at 800 °C for 2 and 4 h showed a homogenous orthorhombic morphology with a particle size of few nanometers range. For the first time, orthorhombic olivine was introduced as positive electrode for a hybrid electrochemical supercapacitor cell with carbon nanofoam as negative electrode in 1 M LiClO₄ in ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate (1:1 in volume) solution. A sloping voltage profile of 2 to 0 V is observed for all the three hybrid cells. From the impedance results, we inferred that LiCoPO₄ nanoparticles synthesized by polyol process offers less resistance than lithium titanium oxide. According to the results of electrochemical testing for the first time, maximum power density of 192 W/kg at 11 Wh/kg energy density was obtained for LiCoPO₄ nanoparticles annealed at 800 °C for 2 h. The dried sample and the sample heated at 800 °C for 2 and 4 h exhibited high capacitances of 5, 19, and 4 F/g, respectively, with an excellent rate capability over 1,000 cycles.