Rapid synthesis of electrode materials (Li₄Ti₅O ₁₂ and LiFePO₄) for lithium ion batteries through microwave enhanced processing techniques

The role of new batteries and energy storage materials are key factors in the new energy economy; certain new ceramic phases and rapid methods for their synthesis are, in turn, key to more efficient and cost-effective (especially Li ion) batteries. Such key phases can be prepared more rapidly and effectively through microwave enhanced processing wherein direct microwave heating as well as indirect and anisothermal microwave heating effects could occur; separated E & H field processing configurations could also offer tremendous advantages in this regard. Two examples of electrode materials which have been confirmed to form rapidly through special microwave processing approaches are Li ₄Ti₅O₁₂ and LiFePO₄. Lithium carbonate and titania were the major starting reactants for microwave enhanced synthesis of the former, while the major starting reactants for the latter included lithium carbonate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and iron(II) oxalate. XRD analyses have confirmed the formation of the required phases. This paper discusses some preliminary experiments, results and subsequent investigations focused on developing faster, cheaper and greener synthesis routes for Li ion battery electrode materials and advanced microwave processing furnaces for scale-up.