Synthesis,characterization, and electrochemical properties of lithium-based fluorosulfate nanoparticles as cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-based fluorosulfate nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple and fast solid state reaction from the precursors FeSO₄?7H₂O and LiF ground by high energy ball milling. Through the introduction of excess of LiF, relatively pure LiFeSO₄F phase with polycrystalline structure was obtained. The structure, morphology, and element valence state were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The results demonstrate uniformly distributed particles and larger particles consisted of single crystalline structure, besides the valence states for different elements were analyzed and Fe²⁺ was confirmed. The cyclic voltammograms (CV) and charge-discharge cycling performances were employed to characterize electrochemical properties of prepared cathode material. It is very interesting that double redox peaks appeared reversibly. Meanwhile, it exhibited a relatively higher first-discharge capacity of 115 mAh/g at 0.05C and it still maintained above 60 mAh/g capacity after experiencing 30 times cycles at final 2C rate.