THE INTERCALATION COMPOUND LI(MN0.9CO0.1)O-2 AS A POSITIVE ELECTRODE FOR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES

By replacing only 10% of the Mn by Co in the layered lithium intercala tion compound LiMnO2 the amount of lithium that can be removed and rei nserted is increased by 50% corresponding to an increase in the abilit y to store charge from 130 to 200 mA h g(-1) at 100 mu A cm(-2) and re ndering this low cost/toxicity material of potential interest as a pos itive electrode in rechargeable lithium batteries; furthermore the coo perative Jahn-Teller distortion due to localised high spin Mn3+(3d(4)) in LiMnO2 appears to be suppressed for Li-x(Mn0.9Co0.1)O-2; x < 0.9 ( 80% Mn3+ assuming Co3+).