# LiFePO₄ (LFP): olivine structure, voltage and uses

> LiFePO₄ (LFP) cathode: olivine structure (Pnma), 1D lithium channels, the flat 3.4 V two-phase plateau, 170 mAh/g, carbon coating and why LFP is safe.

URL: https://www.labcanvas.com/battery-materials/lifepo4

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄, LFP) is an olivine-structured cathode for lithium-ion batteries with a theoretical capacity of 170 mAh g⁻¹ at 3.4 V (Yin et al. 2026). On charging it converts to FePO₄ through a first-order two-phase transition at about 3.4 V vs Li/Li⁺, which is why its voltage curve is so flat, and lithium moves only along one-dimensional channels in the crystal (Boesenberg et al. 2013). Its poor electronic conductivity is overcome with small, carbon-coated particles, and its strong P–O bonds make it thermally stable and cobalt-free, so it now powers many electric vehicles and grid storage systems (Liu et al. 2026; Yin et al. 2026).

Battery materials Published 27 October 2026 Last updated 27 October 2026 11 references

![LiFePO₄: The olivine cathode with a flat 3.4 V plateau (LiFePO₄)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/lifepo4/lifepo4-cover.webp)

**Contents**

**Contents**

- LiFePO₄ (LFP) at a glance
- LiFePO₄ (LFP) structure diagram
- LiFePO₄ (LFP) crystal structure (high-resolution SVG)
- LiFePO₄ (LFP) structure drawing (high-resolution SVG)
- LiFePO₄ (LFP) in 3D (interactive)
- LiFePO₄ structure explained
- Why the LFP voltage curve is flat
- Carbon coating and nanosizing
- Why LFP is safe and cobalt-free
- Uses of LiFePO₄ batteries
- How to draw the LiFePO₄ structure
- LiFePO₄ compared with spinel LiMn₂O₄
- Related materials
- More on LabCanvas
- Frequently asked questions
- References

## LiFePO₄ (LFP) at a glance

| Formula | LiFePO₄ (Yin et al. 2026) |
| --- | --- |
| Molar mass | 157.76 g mol⁻¹ (calculated from the formula) |
| Structure type | Olivine (Boesenberg et al. 2013; Yin et al. 2026) |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic, space group Pnma (Lim et al. 2012) |
| Lithium pathway | One-dimensional channels along the b axis (Boesenberg et al. 2013) |
| Charge reaction | LiFePO₄ → FePO₄ + Li⁺ + e⁻, a first-order two-phase transition at about 3.4 V vs Li/Li⁺ (Boesenberg et al. 2013) |
| Theoretical capacity | 170 mAh g⁻¹ at 3.4 V (Yin et al. 2026); 169.9 mAh g⁻¹ for one Li per formula unit (calculated from the molar mass) |
| Lattice change on delithiation | a −4.9%, b −3.5%, c +1.9% (Boesenberg et al. 2013); about 6.5% smaller cell volume (calculated from these values) |
| Main weakness | Low electronic conductivity and sluggish one-dimensional Li⁺ diffusion (Yin et al. 2026; Liu et al. 2026) |
| Fix | Small primary particles with a conductive carbon coating (Boesenberg et al. 2013; Liu et al. 2026) |
| Thermal stability | Thermal runaway threshold of 210–250 °C; strong P–O bonding (Yin et al. 2026; Liu et al. 2026) |
| Cycle life | More than 6000 cycles (Yin et al. 2026) |
| Market | More than 40% of global electric-vehicle battery demand by installed capacity in 2023 (Yin et al. 2026) |

## LiFePO₄ (LFP) structure diagram

![LiFePO₄ olivine cathode figure template](https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/web/lifepo4-olivine-cathode.webp)

LiFePO₄: the olivine cathode: an editable LabCanvas figure template with the papers it follows. Open it in the figure editor to change any part.

[Edit this figure in LabCanvas](https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?template=lifepo4-olivine-cathode)[See the template](https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/battery-materials/lifepo4-olivine-cathode-two-phase)

## LiFePO₄ (LFP) crystal structure (high-resolution SVG)

![LiFePO₄ (LFP) crystal structure drawn from its crystal file](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/lifepo4/lifepo4-structure.webp)

LiFePO₄ (olivine, Pnma) from the crystal file that ships with LabCanvas: FeO₆ octahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra with lithium in the channels between them. Drawn by the LabCanvas figure editor; open it to change the style, cells and view.

[Edit the structure in LabCanvas](https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?crystal=sample:lifepo4)[Download SVG](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/lifepo4/lifepo4-structure.svg)[Download PNG (3000 px)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/lifepo4/lifepo4-structure.png)

## LiFePO₄ (LFP) structure drawing (high-resolution SVG)

![LiFePO₄ (LFP) structure drawn as a LabCanvas Library object](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/lifepo4/lifepo4-drawing.webp)

The LiFePO₄ olivine structure as a LabCanvas Library battery object, with its lithium channels. Change colours, labels and view in the figure editor.

[Edit the drawing in LabCanvas](https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?add=bat-crystal-lfp)[Download SVG](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/lifepo4/lifepo4-drawing.svg)[Download PNG (3000 px)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/lifepo4/lifepo4-drawing.png)

## LiFePO₄ (LFP) in 3D (interactive)

![LiFePO₄ (LFP) 3D model](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery3d/lifepo4crystal3d.webp)

Loading the 3D model…

LiFePO₄ (LFP) in 3D, built from the same crystal file as the structure above, as the LabCanvas 3D Studio shows it. Drag to turn it.

[Open in the 3D Studio](https://www.labcanvas.com/studio3d.html?add=lifepo4crystal3d)

## LiFePO₄ structure explained

LiFePO₄ has the **olivine** structure: an orthorhombic crystal, space group **Pnma** (Lim et al. 2012), built from FeO₆ octahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra that share corners and edges, the same framework found in the olivine-type sodium analogue NaFePO₄ (Avdeev et al. 2013). The lithium ions sit in rows between these units and can leave the crystal only along **one-dimensional channels parallel to the b axis** (Boesenberg et al. 2013). The (010) planes of olivine cathodes are the open surfaces where these channels end, "express channels" for lithium, so crystals that expose them give better rate performance (Zhou et al. 2018).

Because lithium moves in one dimension, anything that blocks a channel, such as a defect or an iron atom on a lithium site, cuts off the lithium behind it. In micron-sized crystals, cracks and voids were found to control how far delithiation could progress (Boesenberg et al. 2013).

## Why the LFP voltage curve is flat

When an LFP cell is charged, lithium leaves LiFePO₄ and the crystal turns into **FePO₄** with the same framework, through a **first-order phase transition at about 3.4 V vs Li/Li⁺** (Boesenberg et al. 2013). Through most of the charge the electrode is a mixture of two phases, LiFePO₄ and FePO₄, and the voltage of a two-phase mixture does not change with composition, so LFP shows one long, flat plateau instead of a sloping curve: first-order phase transitions are what give such electrodes their constant voltage output (Wagemaker & Mulder 2012). The theoretical capacity is 170 mAh g⁻¹ at 3.4 V (Yin et al. 2026).

The two phases have different cell dimensions: on delithiation the cell shrinks by 4.9% along a and 3.5% along b and grows by 1.9% along c (Boesenberg et al. 2013), about 6.5% less volume overall (calculated from these values). The misfit strains the boundary between the phases. Partly delithiated crystals of every size contain both phases, but the misfit cracked microcrystals badly while nanoplates were undamaged (Yu et al. 2015). As crystallites get smaller the miscibility gap between the two end members shrinks, which lowers the strain (Boesenberg et al. 2013).

## Carbon coating and nanosizing

LiFePO₄ conducts electrons poorly and moves lithium in only one direction (Yin et al. 2026). Early LFP electrodes gave poor utilization and cycling for this reason; the problem was overcome by making **small primary particles with an electron-conducting coating, typically carbon**, to the point that fast rates and high utilization are now commonplace (Boesenberg et al. 2013). Carbon coating, particle size reduction and morphology control remain the central themes of LFP research (Liu et al. 2026).

Nanosizing has a price. Very small particles increase the contact area with the electrolyte, need more carbon and binder and lower the tap density, so practical LFP is a balance between short diffusion paths and dense electrodes (Liu et al. 2026). In thick industrial electrodes the conductive network and the electrode architecture now matter as much as the particles themselves (Liu et al. 2026).

## Why LFP is safe and cobalt-free

- **Thermal stability.** The olivine framework and its strong P–O bonds make LFP safer than many layered oxide cathodes (Liu et al. 2026); its thermal runaway threshold is 210–250 °C (Yin et al. 2026).
- **No cobalt or nickel.** As an iron-based compound LFP has lower toxicity and uses abundant, inexpensive elements compared with Co- and Ni-based cathodes (Rostami et al. 2024), and it reduces dependence on cobalt supplies (Yin et al. 2026).
- **Long life.** LFP cells last more than 6000 cycles (Yin et al. 2026).
- **The trade-off.** Its lower working voltage of 3.4 V limits energy density; olivine LiMn₁₋ₓFeₓPO₄, with a working voltage of 4.1 V, is being developed to raise it (Hu et al. 2017).

## Uses of LiFePO₄ batteries

LFP cathodes are used in electric vehicles, where LFP accounted for more than 40% of global electric-vehicle battery demand by installed capacity in 2023, and in **large-scale stationary storage** for renewable energy, where its safety, long cycle life, low cost and thermal stability count for more than energy density (Yin et al. 2026). Growing adoption also means growing numbers of spent LFP batteries, and recycling routes for them are now an active field (Rostami et al. 2024).

LFP is one of several cathode and anode materials covered in our overview of [battery materials](https://www.labcanvas.com/battery-materials).

## How to draw the LiFePO₄ structure

For a paper, slide or poster, show the olivine cell looking down the a axis or the c axis so that the rows of lithium between the FeO₆ octahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra are visible, and mark the b axis as the lithium diffusion direction. For a charge–discharge scheme, draw a particle with a LiFePO₄ core and an FePO₄ region separated by a phase boundary. The LabCanvas figure editor Library has a battery crystal object for olivine LFP that you can drop into a figure, colour and resize, and the LabCanvas 3D Studio has an LFP cathode model that you can turn, show as polyhedra and export as a high-resolution image.

## LiFePO₄ compared with spinel LiMn₂O₄

| Cathode | Structure | Li⁺ pathway | Voltage vs Li/Li⁺ | Theoretical capacity | Main limitation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LiFePO₄ (LFP) | Olivine, Pnma | 1D channels along b | ≈3.4 V, flat two-phase plateau | 170 mAh g⁻¹ | Low electronic conductivity, 1D diffusion |
| LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) | Cubic spinel, Fd-3m | 3D network | ≈4.1 V (two plateaus) | ≈148 mAh g⁻¹ | Mn dissolution and Jahn–Teller distortion |

## Related materials

[![Battery materials: Cathodes, anodes and electrolytes of Li-ion cells (LiCoO₂ | LiPF₆ | LiC₆)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/battery-materials/battery-materials-cover.webp) Battery material LiCoO₂ | LiPF₆ | LiC₆ Battery materials How a lithium-ion cell works and what is inside it: layered, spinel and olivine cathodes, graphite, silicon and lithium anodes, liquid and solid electrolytes.](https://www.labcanvas.com/battery-materials)

[![LiMn₂O₄: The 4 V spinel cathode with 3D lithium paths (LiMn₂O₄)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/limn2o4/limn2o4-cover.webp) Battery material LiMn₂O₄ LiMn₂O₄ (spinel) LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) spinel cathode: cubic Fd-3m structure, 3D lithium diffusion, 4.1 V plateaus, 148 mAh/g, Mn dissolution, Jahn–Teller fade and LiNi₀.₅Mn₁.₅O₄.](https://www.labcanvas.com/battery-materials/limn2o4)

[![NMC: Nickel-rich layered cathodes for electric cars (LiNiₓMnᵧCo₁₋ₓ₋ᵧO₂)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/nmc/nmc-cover.webp) Battery material LiNiₓMnᵧCo₁₋ₓ₋ᵧO₂ NMC (LiNiₓMnᵧCo₁₋ₓ₋ᵧO₂) NMC cathodes (LiNiₓMnᵧCo₁₋ₓ₋ᵧO₂): layered structure, NMC111 to 811, why more nickel means more capacity but less stability, and the fixes.](https://www.labcanvas.com/battery-materials/nmc)

[![LiCoO₂: The layered cathode that launched Li-ion cells (LiCoO₂)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/licoo2/licoo2-cover.webp) Battery material LiCoO₂ LiCoO₂ LiCoO₂ structure and properties: the layered O3 (α-NaFeO₂-type) cathode, why only half its lithium is used, ~4 V vs Li, phones and laptops, high-voltage LCO.](https://www.labcanvas.com/battery-materials/licoo2)

[![Graphite anode: The layered carbon anode in most Li-ion cells (C → LiC₆)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/graphite-anode/graphite-anode-cover.webp) Battery material C → LiC₆ Graphite anode Graphite anode in lithium-ion batteries: LiC₆ and 372 mAh/g, staging, intercalation near 0.1 V, the SEI from ethylene carbonate and lithium plating.](https://www.labcanvas.com/battery-materials/graphite-anode)

[![Sodium-ion: Hard carbon, Prussian blue and layered oxides (Na⁺ host materials)](https://www.labcanvas.com/materials/sodium-ion/sodium-ion-cover.webp) Battery material Na⁺ host materials Sodium-ion battery materials Sodium-ion battery materials: why sodium, hard carbon anodes (graphite stores little Na), Prussian blue, layered oxide and polyanion cathodes compared.](https://www.labcanvas.com/battery-materials/sodium-ion)

## More on LabCanvas

- [LiFePO₄: the olivine cathode](https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/battery-materials/lifepo4-olivine-cathode-two-phase): Editable figure template
- [More battery figure templates](https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/battery-materials): Ready-made, cited figures to edit
- [Crystal structure figure software compared](https://www.labcanvas.com/blog/crystal-structure-visualization-software): VESTA, Mercury, CrystalMaker, Avogadro and LabCanvas
- [Supercapacitor calculator](https://www.labcanvas.com/tools/supercapacitor-calculator): Free tool: capacitance, energy and power from cycling data
- [Faradaic efficiency calculator](https://www.labcanvas.com/tools/faradaic-efficiency-calculator): Free tool
- [Battery figure templates](https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/battery-materials): Cited, editable battery figures
- [XRD Scherrer crystallite size calculator](https://www.labcanvas.com/tools/xrd-scherrer-calculator): Free tool
- [Molar mass calculator](https://www.labcanvas.com/tools/molar-mass-calculator): Free tool
- [Journal figure size guide](https://www.labcanvas.com/blog/journal-figure-size-guide): Column widths and resolutions for 38 journals
- [3D models gallery](https://www.labcanvas.com/gallery): Turn MOFs, COFs, perovskites and more in 3D

## Frequently asked questions

### What is LiFePO₄?

Lithium iron phosphate, an olivine-structured cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, often called LFP. It stores lithium at about 3.4 V with a theoretical capacity of 170 mAh g⁻¹ and is known for safety, long life and low cost (Yin et al. 2026).

### What is the crystal structure of LiFePO₄?

Olivine: orthorhombic, space group Pnma (Lim et al. 2012), with FeO₆ octahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra and lithium in one-dimensional channels along the b axis (Boesenberg et al. 2013).

### What is the voltage of a LiFePO₄ battery?

The LFP cathode works at about 3.4 V vs Li/Li⁺ (Boesenberg et al. 2013; Yin et al. 2026). The voltage stays almost constant through most of the charge because LiFePO₄ and FePO₄ coexist as two phases.

### Why does LFP have a flat voltage curve?

Because charging is a first-order phase transition from LiFePO₄ to FePO₄ (Boesenberg et al. 2013). While two phases coexist, the electrode potential does not depend on how much lithium is left, so the curve is a long plateau.

### What is the theoretical capacity of LiFePO₄?

170 mAh g⁻¹ (Yin et al. 2026), from one lithium per LiFePO₄ (169.9 mAh g⁻¹ calculated from the molar mass of 157.76 g mol⁻¹).

### Why is LiFePO₄ coated with carbon?

LiFePO₄ conducts electrons poorly, so early electrodes used only part of their capacity. Small particles with a conductive carbon coating overcame this, giving high rates and utilization (Boesenberg et al. 2013; Liu et al. 2026).

### Is LFP safer than NMC?

LFP is safer than many layered oxide cathodes because its olivine framework with strong P–O bonds is thermally stable (Liu et al. 2026); its thermal runaway threshold is 210–250 °C (Yin et al. 2026).

### Does LiFePO₄ contain cobalt?

No. LFP is iron-based and contains neither cobalt nor nickel, which lowers toxicity and cost and reduces dependence on cobalt supplies (Rostami et al. 2024; Yin et al. 2026).

## References

- L. Yin, Y. Jiang, J. Wang, B. Li, F. Liu, C. Jiang, J. Wen, C. N. K. Patabendige, V. Thangadurai, J. Ma. Comprehensive review of synthesis, structure, and electrochemical performance of LiFePO₄. *Adv. Sci.* 2026, 13, e77203. [doi:10.1002/advs.77203](https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.77203)
- U. Boesenberg, F. Meirer, Y. Liu, A. K. Shukla, R. Dell’Anna, T. Tyliszczak, G. Chen, J. C. Andrews, T. J. Richardson, R. Kostecki, J. Cabana. Mesoscale phase distribution in single particles of LiFePO₄ following lithium deintercalation. *Chem. Mater.* 2013, 25, 1664–1672. [doi:10.1021/cm400106k](https://doi.org/10.1021/cm400106k)
- X. Liu, F. Li, B. Yin, G. Wang, H. Wu. Failure-mode-oriented design of cathode materials for practical lithium-ion batteries: from crystal stability to electrode-level durability. *Front. Chem.* 2026, 14, 1873892. [doi:10.3389/fchem.2026.1873892](https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2026.1873892)
- J. Lim, S.-W. Kang, J. Moon, S. Kim, H. Park, J. P. Baboo, J. Kim. Low-temperature synthesis of LiFePO₄ nanocrystals by solvothermal route. *Nanoscale Res. Lett.* 2012, 7, 3. [doi:10.1186/1556-276X-7-3](https://doi.org/10.1186/1556-276X-7-3)
- M. Avdeev, Z. Mohamed, C. D. Ling, J. Lu, M. Tamaru, A. Yamada, P. Barpanda. Magnetic structures of NaFePO₄ maricite and triphylite polymorphs for sodium-ion batteries. *Inorg. Chem.* 2013, 52, 8685–8693. [doi:10.1021/ic400870x](https://doi.org/10.1021/ic400870x)
- Y.-S. Yu et al.. Dependence on crystal size of the nanoscale chemical phase distribution and fracture in LiₓFePO₄. *Nano Lett.* 2015, 15, 4282–4288. [doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b01314](https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b01314)
- S. Zhou, T. Mei, X. Wang, Y. Qian. Crystal structural design of exposed planes: express channels, high-rate capability cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. *Nanoscale* 2018, 10, 17435–17455. [doi:10.1039/c8nr04842h](https://doi.org/10.1039/c8nr04842h)
- J. Hu et al.. Tuning Li-ion diffusion in α-LiMn₁₋ₓFeₓPO₄ nanocrystals by antisite defects and embedded β-phase for advanced Li-ion batteries. *Nano Lett.* 2017, 17, 4934–4940. [doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b01978](https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b01978)
- H. Rostami, J. Valio, P. Tynjälä, U. Lassi, P. Suominen. Life cycle of LiFePO₄ batteries: production, recycling, and market trends. *ChemPhysChem* 2024, 25, e202400459. [doi:10.1002/cphc.202400459](https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202400459)
- M. Wagemaker, F. M. Mulder. Properties and promises of nanosized insertion materials for Li-ion batteries. *Acc. Chem. Res.* 2012, 46, 1206–1215. [doi:10.1021/ar2001793](https://doi.org/10.1021/ar2001793)
- M. Bakierska, M. Świętosławski, M. Gajewska, A. Kowalczyk, Z. Piwowarska, L. Chmielarz, R. Dziembaj, M. Molenda. Enhancement of electrochemical performance of LiMn₂O₄ spinel cathode material by synergetic substitution with Ni and S. *Materials* 2016, 9, 366. [doi:10.3390/ma9050366](https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9050366)

## Draw LiFePO₄ (LFP) for your paper or slides

LabCanvas is a browser workspace for scientific figures: framework clusters, linkers and nets, crystal structures in 2D and 3D, graphs and posters, all editable.

[Edit the LiFePO₄ (LFP) figure](https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?template=lifepo4-olivine-cathode)

**Contents**

- LiFePO₄ (LFP) at a glance
- LiFePO₄ (LFP) structure diagram
- LiFePO₄ (LFP) crystal structure (high-resolution SVG)
- LiFePO₄ (LFP) structure drawing (high-resolution SVG)
- LiFePO₄ (LFP) in 3D (interactive)
- LiFePO₄ structure explained
- Why the LFP voltage curve is flat
- Carbon coating and nanosizing
- Why LFP is safe and cobalt-free
- Uses of LiFePO₄ batteries
- How to draw the LiFePO₄ structure
- LiFePO₄ compared with spinel LiMn₂O₄
- Related materials
- More on LabCanvas
- Frequently asked questions
- References