Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Nanocrystalline Li[Ni[sub 0.20]Li[sub 0.20]Mn[sub 0.60]]O[sub 2]

Abstract

A nanocrystalline powder was synthesized by a simple combustion method and investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling. The particle size of the powder was distributed in the range of 100-200 nm. Rietveld analysis revealed that is basically a layered rock-salt structure in which a small amount of Ni occupies the 3a sites. The initial discharge capacity of the cell was about 288 mAh/g when it was cycled at a voltage range of 4.8-2.0 V with a specific current of 20 mA g⁻¹. A very promising factor for high-rate capability applications was a reversible capacity of 200 mAh g⁻¹ at the 100th cycle with a high specific current of 400 mA g⁻¹. The weight loss measurement for charged electrodes gave indirect evidence that the long plateau at 4.5 V did not originate from the ejection of oxygen. © 2003 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.