Enhancement of the electrochemical performance of LiFePO₄ cathode material by nanosecond laser annealing

Pulsed laser annealing of LiFePO₄ can improve conductivity by increasing oxygen vacancy-related defect concentration; this approach can improve the current carrying capacity of LIB cathodes from 135 to 145 mAh g⁻¹ under optimized conditions. Since the depth of the laser annealing region is less than 1 µm, the increase is equivalent to a 125% overall improvement in the charge capacity if the entire thickness of the LiFePO₄ region is treated by pulsed laser annealing. Pulsed laser annealing has two primary effects on the atomic structure of LiFePO₄, namely an increase in anionic vacancy concentration and antisite defect concentration.. Authors: Sahoo, S. S. [North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)]; Narayan, J. [North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)]; Narayan, R. J. [North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)]; Sun, Xiao-Guang [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000184513011); Paranthaman, Mariappan Parans [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)] (ORCID:0000000330098531). DOE Contract: AC05-00OR22725. Subjects: 25 ENERGY STORAGE; Li; defects; energy storage; laser annealing