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Identifying the Structure of the Intermediate, Li2/3CoPO4, Formed during Electrochemical Cycling of LiCoPO4.


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Authors

Strobridge, Fiona C 
Clément, Raphaële J 
Leskes, Michal 
Middlemiss, Derek S 
Borkiewicz, Olaf J 

Abstract

In situ synchrotron diffraction measurements and subsequent Rietveld refinements are used to show that the high energy density cathode material LiCoPO4 (space group Pnma) undergoes two distinct two-phase reactions upon charge and discharge, both occurring via an intermediate Li2/3(Co2+)2/3(Co3+)1/3PO4 phase. Two resonances are observed for Li2/3CoPO4 with intensity ratios of 2:1 and 1:1 in the 31P and 7Li NMR spectra, respectively. An ordering of Co2+/Co3+ oxidation states is proposed within a (a × 3b × c) supercell, and Li+/vacancy ordering is investigated using experimental NMR data in combination with first-principles solid-state DFT calculations. In the lowest energy configuration, both the Co3+ ions and Li vacancies are found to order along the b-axis. Two other low energy Li+/vacancy ordering schemes are found only 5 meV per formula unit higher in energy. All three configurations lie below the LiCoPO4-CoPO4 convex hull and they may be readily interconverted by Li+ hops along the b-direction.

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Keywords

34 Chemical Sciences, 3406 Physical Chemistry

Journal Title

Chem Mater

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0897-4756
1520-5002

Volume Title

26

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)