Vibrational spectroscopic investigation of structurally-related LiFePO4, NaFePO4, and FePO4 compounds.

Vibrational spectroscopy was utilized to investigate the local structure of LiFePO(4), NaFePO(4), and FePO(4). The factor group splitting of the intramolecular PO(4)(3-) vibrations is between 10 and 20 cm(-1) less for NaFePO(4) than for LiFePO(4). This is because Li(+) ions have a higher charge density than Na(+) ions and can form stronger coordinative bonds with the PO(4)(3-) anions. Thus, the internal modes are more perturbed in LiFePO(4) and exhibit larger factor group splitting effects. The similarity of the factor group multiplets for both LiFePO(4) and NaFePO(4), particularly the PO(4)(3-) bending modes, strongly suggests that the 506 and 470 cm(-1) bands of LiFePO(4) consist almost entirely of lithium translatory motion. There are marked differences between the vibrational spectrum of FePO(4) and those of LiMPO(4) (M=Mn, Fe, Co, or Ni) or NaFePO(4). The monovalent cations interact with the oxygen atoms of the phosphate groups, affecting the frequencies and intensities of the intramolecular PO(4)(3-) modes, in a manner that is absent in FePO(4).