Carbon Nanotube-Wrapped Lithium Cathode Holds Charge at 100C Rates

The material, LiMn0.7Fe0.3PO4 combined with carbon and carbon nanotubes, was synthesized as spherical micrometer-sized particles intended for power lithium-ion batteries.

The synthesis route begins with a co-precipitation step that produces a Mn0.7Fe0.3CO3 precursor in which iron and manganese form a solid-solution structure. Spray drying and high-temperature sintering then convert this precursor into the final spherical LMFP/C/CNT particles. This two-stage approach is designed to control particle morphology, a key factor in how quickly lithium ions and electrons can move through a cathode during rapid cycling.

Carbon nanotubes play a central role in the design. According to the authors, the composite structure built around the nanotubes prevents excessive growth of the primary particles and supplies highly conductive pathways throughout the material.

In electrochemical tests, the composite delivered 168.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1C, 156.2 mAh g−1 at 1C, 142.9 mAh g−1 at 10C, and 96.7 mAh g−1 at the 100C rate.

Durability under sustained fast cycling was also assessed. After 1000 cycles at the 100C rate, the material retained a capacity of 102.1 mAh g−1, corresponding to a capacity retention of 67.5%.

The authors attribute this stability to the conductive bridging effect of the carbon nanotubes among the LMFP particles. By boosting interparticle electron transport and the overall electrical conductivity, the nanotubes make the primary particles more closely connected, which the study links to improved structural stability over repeated cycling.

The reported capacities should be understood as measurements from this specific synthesized composite under the tested conditions, not as guarantees for commercial cells, which would require validation at pack level and under varied temperatures.

The work was published in the Journal of Materials Science in 2026 by a team including Jishun Yang, Yuan Ping, Hongjiang Yu, Jiyang Deng, Cuilin Yu and Gang Yang.

Subject of Research: Synthesis and electrochemical performance of a carbon nanotube-enhanced lithium manganese iron phosphate cathode for high-rate lithium-ion batteries.

Article Title: Preparation and characterization of LiMn0.7Fe0.3PO4/C/CNTs composite as superhigh-rate cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Article References: Yang, J., Ping, Y., Yu, H., Deng, J., Yu, C., & Yang, G. (2026). Preparation and characterization of LiMn0.7Fe0.3PO4/C/CNTs composite as superhigh-rate cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Journal of Materials Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-026-13961-9

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s10853-026-13961-9

Keywords: lithium-ion batteries, cathode materials, LiMn0.7Fe0.3PO4, carbon nanotubes, fast charging, spray drying, co-precipitation, capacity retention, energy materials, phosphate cathodes, Preparation, characterization