ABSTRACT
Crystalline size has tremendous effect on the thermodynamics and kinetics in intercalation compounds. This includes diffusion/ transport length, effective surface area for exchange current, surface energy, and interphase energy. In this chapter, we focus on the compound LixFePO4, in which phase changes by simple two-phase separation but with controllable miscible character and by raising temperature and/or reducing crystalline size provides a simple model system to rationalize thermodynamics and electrochemistry in electrode reaction. Systematic experimental results on this issue are reviewed and summarized in this chapter along with the negative aspects of nanoparticle, including surface poisoning by air contact and its diagnosis.
