Synthesis and characterization of LiFeO₂ and LiFe_0.9Co_0.1O₂ as cathode materials for Li-ion cells

Abstract

The solution-combustion route is beneficial for fast and easy synthesis of cathode materials for Li-ion cells. LiFeO₂ synthesized by this method results in an amorphous phase that exhibits poor electrochemical activity with an initial specific capacity of only about 80 mAh g^-1 and on annealing it transforms into an electrochemically inactive phase. On the other hand, α -NaFeO₂ synthesized by a solution-combustion method and subjected to Na⁺/Li⁺ exchange by refluxing with LiBr solution in n-hexanol to obtain layered LiFeO₂, exhibits an initial specific capacity of about 205 mAh g^-1 with capacity fading after prolonged charge-discharge cycling. LiFe_0.9Co_0.1O₂, synthesized by the same route, shows a stable specific capacity of about 190 mAh g^-1.