Studies of LiNi0.6Co0.4O2 cathode material prepared by the citric acid-assisted sol-gel method for lithium batteries

The layered LiNi0.6Co0.4O2 powders were synthesized at low temperature by a sol-gel method using citric acid as a chelating agent. Submicron-sized par ticles of the precursor were obtained at temperature below 400 degrees C an d microcrystalline powders were grown by thermal treatment at 700 degrees C for 4 h in air. The carboxylic-based acid acted such as a fuel, decomposed the homogeneous precipitate of metal complexes at low temperature, and yie lded the free impurity LiNi0.6Co0.4O2 single-phase suitable for electrochem ical application. The synthesized products have been characterized by struc tural (XRD, SEM), spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman) and thermal (DTA/TG) analyses . Raman and FTIR measurements provide information on the local environment of the cationic sublattice of LiNi0.6Co0.4O2 solid solution. Electrochemica l performance of the synthesized products in rechargeable Li cells were eva luated by employing as cathodes in non-aqueous organic electrolyte mixture of 1M LiPF6 in EC + DMC. The electrochemical behaviour of synthesized LiNi0 .6Co0.4O2 is discussed in relation with its synthesis procedure.