The electrochemical lithium reactions of monoclinic ZnP2 material

Abstract

Monoclinic ZnP2 particles were synthesized by vacuum annealing of a mixture consisting of P and Zn powders at 1000 °C. In contrast to a tetragonal Zn3P2 phase, a very large plateau corresponding to 1000 mAh g-1 at ∼0.45 V was developed, and out to 545 mAh g-1, only topotactic lithium ion intercalation into the molecule pores was observed. The excess Li ion uptake beyond simple Li intercalation (>545 mAh g-1) into molecular pores can break a chemical bond between Zn and the phosphorus atoms. During discharge, the formation of the LinP clusters (LiP5 and LiP) and Zn, LiZnP phases were dominant as a result of the local structural distortion around the ZnP 4 tetrahedral site. During charge, Zn and LiP5 phases transformed into ZnP2 and LiP phases. However, decomposition reactions of the LiP and ZnP2 phases with the electrolyte led to the capacity fade of the cell.