•We synthesized LiFePO4 nanoplates with the {010} face prominent by using ethylene glycol (EG) as the solvent.•The electrochemical behaviors were investigated by cyclic voltammetry measurements.•LiFePO4 nanoplates can undergo lithium-ion deintercalation and intercalation at a larger 280 mV/s scan rate.•The concentrations and ratio of reactants differences may lead to different morphology and electrochemical properties.LiFePO4 nanoplates were synthesized by using ethylene glycol (EG) as a solvent. The morphologies and sizes of the LiFePO4 particles were strongly dependent on synthetic parameters such as concentrations and mole ratio of reactants. LiFePO4 particles are nanoplates with the {010} face prominent, namely, with a short b-axis and the samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) test analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis implied that the defect concentrations of the Fe•Li antisite in LiFePO4 nanoplates were very low. The electrochemical behaviors were investigated by cyclic voltammetry measurements in the Li2SO4 aqueous electrolyte. It was shown that all samples could undergo lithium-ion deintercalation and intercalation upon oxidation and reduction at a scan rate range of 5–20 mV/s. Only the sample (formed in a FeSO4·7H2O to H3PO4 and LiOH·H2O ratio of 1:1.5:2.7 with appropriate concentration) could undergo lithium-ion deintercalation and intercalation at a large scan rate even at 280 mV/s and showed excellent rapid charge and discharge performance. This provided a facile way to prepare high performance LiFePO4 nanoplate cathode material for lithium ion batteries.

Co3O4/MWCNTs composites have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method using a surfactant (CTAB) and a precipitation agent (urea). The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and BET methods. The electrochemical properties of the samples as anode materials for lithium batteries were studied by EIS and Galvanostatic measurements. The Co3O4/MWCNTs composites displayed higher capacity and better cycle performance in comparison with the Co3O4 nanosheets. The remarkable improvement of electrochemical performance within the hybrid composites is probably related to the addition of MWCNTs that possesses improved properties such as excellent electric conductivity and large surface area, which helps to alleviate the effect of volume change, shorten the distance of lithium ion diffusion, facilitate the transmission of electron and keep the structure stable.

Co3O4 microspheres were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal treatment. The first-cycle charge–discharge tests were carried out between −0.6 and 0.6 V vs. SCE. The pristine, discharged and recharged specimens were characterized by X-ray power diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves of Co3O4 at various concentrations in LiOH solution were investigated. The appearance of the two pairs of redox peaks indicated that two sets of faradaic reactions were involved in the redox reactions of Co3O4 to LiCoO2 and LiHCoO2.