Synthesis and Electrochemical Characteristics of Li[Co[sub x]Li[sub (1/3−x/3)]Mn[sub (2/3−2x/3)]]O[sub 2] Compounds

Abstract
Li[CoxLi(1/3−x/3)Mn(2/3−2x/3)]O2Li[CoxLi(1/3−x/3)Mn(2/3−2x/3)]O2 (x=0.1,(x=0.1, 0.17, 0.20, 0.25, 0.33, and 0.5) compounds were prepared using a simple combustion method and studied by the X-ray diffraction method, electrochemical techniques, and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis. The Rietveld analysis showed that these compounds could be classified as the α­NaFeO2α­NaFeO2 structure type. Both a and c parameters decreased linearly, while c/ac/a increased with the increase of Co content. The oxidation states of Mn and Co ion in the Li[CoxLi(1/3−x/3)Mn(2/3−2x/3)]O2Li[CoxLi(1/3−x/3)Mn(2/3−2x/3)]O2 compounds were refined as 4+ and 3+, respectively, by XANES analysis. Irreversible voltage plateaus were observed in the initial charge profile of these compounds, as in the case of Li2MnO3Li2MnO3 -based oxides. The plateaus shifted to the higher voltage range, with the Co content decreased. The delivered discharge capacity gradually decreased from about 265 to 150 mAh/g as the Co content decreased from x=0.5x=0.5 to 0.1. On cycling, the smooth discharge profile was converted to two subplateaus. The high Co content in the compounds suppressed the phase conversion during cycling, which led to a relatively stable cyclic performance. © 2004 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.