Polypyrrole-coated α-LiFeO2 nanocomposite with enhanced electrochemical properties for lithium-ion batteries

A conducting alpha-LiFeO2-polypyrrole (alpha-LiFeO2-PPy) nanocomposite material was prepared by the chemical polymerization method as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. The porous alpha-LiFeO2 was prepared via the microwave hydrothermal method and a post-annealing. The X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy measurements showed that the alpha-LiFeO2 nanoparticles were coated with PPy. The polypyrrole coating improves the reversible capacity and cycling stability (104 mAh g(-1) at 0.1C after 100 cycles) for lithium-ion batteries. Even at the high rate of 10C, the electrode showed more than 40% of the capacity at low rate (0.1C).