Energy Storage Science and Technology

   

Design of a Continuous Production Facility for Solid-Solution Manganese Iron Pyrophosphate

Kai TANG1,2()   

  1. 1.School of Safety Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    2.Zhejiang Yucheng New Material Co. , Ltd. , Ningbo 315100, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2025-05-26 Revised:2025-07-01

Abstract:

The commercialization of lithium manganese iron phosphate (LiFe1-yMnyPO4, LMFP) as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries has been severely hindered by challenges such as two-phase stacking (LiFePO4 & LiMnPO4), inhomogeneous Mn/Fe distribution, and electrochemical performance degradation. This study proposes a precursor homogenization strategy based on manganese iron pyrophosphate ((Fe1-yMny)2P2O7, MFP) solid solutions. By developing and designing an atomization high-temperature synthesis (AHTS) roaster, continuous production of MFP was achieved, enabling the preparation of high-performance LMFP cathode materials. The MFP precursor employs atomic-scale Fe/Mn co-precipitation to transfer uniformity to the LMFP lattice, suppressing anti-site defects and eliminating two-phase stacking coexistence, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional modification methods (e.g., carbon coating, doping). The AHTS-MFP process utilizes a micron-scale atomized droplet reactor and a multi-constraint coupled iterative optimization design method to develop a specialized synthesis device. Through three-dimensional coupled thermodynamics-fluid dynamics-chemical reaction kinetics simulations, flow field, temperature field, and oxygen concentration control were optimized, forming a stable "gas vortex lock" structure. This ensures that atomized droplets undergo evaporation, co-precipitation, drying, and condensation reactions sequentially within the furnace, with a residence time exceeding 15 seconds, achieving high crystallinity and elemental homogeneity. Key designs include symmetrical nozzle arrays, a tangential flue combustion system, and a multi-layer oxygen-blocking composite structure, combined with dynamic nitrogen injection technology to precisely control the oxygen concentration in the roaster below 1%. The SEM images, XRD patterns, HAADF-STEM images, and EDS mapping results of the samples (Fe0.35Mn0.65)2P2O7 prepared in the production test show that the samples are solid solution materials with uniform distribution of each element. The LMFP cathode material LiFe0.35Mn0.65PO4 prepared from it exhibits a uniform olivine-type structure. The XRD pattern shows no secondary phases, and the HAADF-STEM images and EDS mapping results indicate that each element in the sample is uniformly distributed, confirming that the uniformity of the precursor is successfully transmitted to the final product. Through process and equipment innovation, this study has overcome the problems of two-phase stacking and uneven element distribution in LMFP industrialization, providing key technical support for its industrial production.

Key words: Manganese iron pyrophosphate (MFP), Lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), Atomization high-temperature synthesis (AHTS), Solid solution

CLC Number: