Oxalic dihydrazide assisted novel combustion synthesized Li3V2(PO4)3 and LiVP2O7 compounds for rechargeable lithium batteries

A novel oxalic dihydrazide (ODH) has been identified as a fuel for solution combustion synthesis to prepare LixMy(PO4)(z) compounds as a cathode material for lithium battery applications. These compounds have been synthesized at 850 degrees C using a mixture of Ar:H-2 (90:10) atmosphere, wherein oxalic dihydrazide acts both as a combustible fuel and a carbon source. This resulted in a higher carbon content weighing ca. 12 and 8% for poly (Li3V2(PO4)(3)/C) and pyrophosphate (LiVP2O7/C) composites as opposed to the in-situ added super P carbon was only 5 wt.%. The electrochemical behavior of these cathodes showed reversible intercalation and de-intercalation of lithium ions while exhibiting specific capacities of 168 and 100 mAh/g with good capacity retention. The role of ODH assisted combustion synthesis (ODHAC) on the physical and electrochemical behavior of the title compounds has been demonstrated.