A comprehensive theoretical study of Li2FeSiO4 polymorphs as Li-ion batteries cathode materials: DFT evaluations

Li2FeSiO4 is one of the most promising cathode materials for application in high energy density Li-ion batteries. In order to evaluate the Li2FeSiO4 theoretically, its four known polymorphs are considered using density functional theory (DFT) framework. First, different DFT methods (LSDA/+U, GGA/+U) were employed for the best known polymorph (Pmn21) in two atomic-radial frame works (RFe=2.0 and RFe=1.75). Then, the results were compared by the experimentally published data in order to determine better atomic-radial framework for each DFT methods, i.e. LSDA(+U) and GGA(+U). The selected optimum methods were used for evaluation of the other polymorphs. Structural properties, structural stability after Li extraction, relative thermodynamic stability, theoretical voltage and electrical properties were calculated for all the polymorphs. In all these investigations polymorphs properties have been compared. Results showed structural stability of all polymorphs after extraction of one Li per formula. The most energetically stable polymorphs were determined to be P21/n and mod-Pmn21, respectively. Using the performed theoretical studies, we proposed a number of mechanisms to understand behaviors of the cathode material.