The effect of graphene wrapping on the performance of LiFePO4 for a lithium ion battery

Abstract Graphene wrapping is used to experimentally understand how a carbon coating works in improving the electrochemical performance of the LiFePO 4 cathode for a lithium ion battery. A full wrapping of LiFePO 4 by graphene is realized by a self-assembly driven by the electrostatic interaction in a graphene oxide suspension. Results indicate that a partial graphene wrapping provides a balance between increased electron transport and fast ion diffusion while full graphene wrapping isolates LiFePO 4 from the electrolyte and retards ion diffusion. This indicates that steric hindrance for ion diffusion should be considered together with electron transport in constructing a carbon coating layer.