METHOD OF SOLID-LIQUID MIXING GEL PROCESS FOR LiFePO4 SYNTHESIS
A method of synthesizing LiFePO 4 compounds and analogs thereof for use in secondary electrodes involves mixing the starting materials and polymerizing the mixture into a gel. The gel form allows thorough milling and mixing of the reagents and results in a smaller and more uniform particle size in the resultant electrode formed and a well crystallized structure based on the X-ray diffraction pattern.
1 . A method to generate a LiFePO 4 or an analog of LiFePO 4 comprising: forming a 3-dimension gel structure containing the precursor of the LiFePO 4 or an analog of LiFePO 4 through a polymerization reaction.
2 . The method of claim 1 , the precursor of LiFePO 4 or its variety includes a solid phase and a liquid phase.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the solid phase includes compounds of iron and other possible metals, such as Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 , FeOOH, FeC 2 O 4 , etc.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the liquid phase is a water solution.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the solvents include lithium compounds, phosphorous compounds and Li—P compounds.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymerization is a reaction of organic monomer, initiator, and other additives.
7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the initiator is a peroxide compound.
8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the additives includes a reductant such as a Fe 2+ ion.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the reductant additive includes one or more other metal compound.
10 . The method of claim 4 wherein the solvents include a water soluble metal or non-metal compounds.