Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is a chemical compound with the formula LiFePO4. It is a gray-black solid that can be obtained from the minerals carnotite and roscoelite. It is also commercially produced from lithium carbonate and iron(III) oxide. The name “lithium iron phosphate” refers to its composition of lithium, iron, and phosphate ions.
LiFePO4 has a number of advantages over other types of lithium ion batteries. These include higher thermal stability, higher discharge voltage, lower cost, and safer operation. LiFePO4 also has a longer cycle life than other battery chemistries due to its low rate of capacity fade.
Applications for LiFePO4 batteries include electric vehicles (EVs), grid energy storage, consumer electronics, and power tools. EVs are the largest market for these batteries, as they require high energy density and long cycle life. Grid energy storage applications are another major market for LiFePO4 batteries, as they offer a way to store renewable energy for later use.
The main disadvantages of LiFePO4 batteries are their lower specific energy density compared to other battery chemistries such as lithium-ion cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) and their slower charge/discharge rates compared to lithium titanate (LiTi) batteries. Despite these drawbacks, LiFePO4 remains one of the most popular choices for rechargeable battery applications due to its overall performance advantages.