LOW-TEMPERATURE COBALT OXIDE AS RECHARGEABLE CATHODIC MATERIAL FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES

The present paper describes a novel synthesis of LiCoO2 obtained from a solution technique. Low-temperature LiCoO2 compound has been prepare d by the reaction of lithium and ammonium hydroxyde with a cobalt nitr ate aqueous solution. An appropriate heat treatment of the correspondi ng precipitate performed at 400 degrees C in air leads to a crystalliz ed layered LiCoO2. Preliminary structural and electrochemical experime nts are reported and evidenced that lithium extraction occurs at a low er potential (3.7 V) than for its high-temperature analogue with a max imum depth of charge of 0.5 Li/Co when used in a conventional electrol yte.