SYNTHESIS BY A SOFT CHEMISTRY ROUTE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LINIXCO1-XO2 0-LESS-THAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-X-LESS-THAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-1) CATHODE MATERIALS

LiNixCo1-xO2 cathode materials have been prepared using a soft chemist ry route for 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1. Co-pre cipitation of hydroxides is followed by drying and heating at temperat ures between 700 and 800 degrees C for a short time (2 to 5 h) under o xygen flow. Due to the high reactivity of the co-precipitates, prepara tion time is shorter than with powders mixing methods generally used, A DTA-TGA study has been performed for each co-precipitate. LiNixCo1-x O2 compounds show good crystallinity, but lithium deficiency appears f or nickel-rich samples. LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 shows the best electrochemical charge-discharge behavior among all the nickel-cobalt compounds studie d. This has been attributed to a low Lithium deficiency and to a high nickel content.