FLEXIBLE SYNTHESIS OF MIXED-METAL OXIDES ILLUSTRATED FOR LIMN2O4 AND LICOO2

A new dynamic process (DP) for rapid and continuous mixed metal oxide synthesis is illustrated for LiMn2O4 and LiCoO2. The DP synthetic meth od offers the possibility of producing pure or mixed lithiated metal o xide materials of controlled composition, phase-content, particle size , porosity and morphology. The final metal oxides are made from low-co st reactants; metals, carbonates and acetic acid, and are well suited for industrial scale-up. Characterization includes XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, BJH (Barrett, Joyner, Halendal), laser beam light diffraction and ele ctrochemical measurements. The DP synthesis method may offer high qual ity electrode materials (with total pore areas of 76 m(2) g(-1)) to th e future battery industry as scale-up is easily adopted.