Li(Ni0.40Mn0.40Co0.15Al0.05)O2: A promising positive electrode material for high-power and safe lithium-ion batteries

Li-1.11(Ni0.40Mn0.39Co0.16Al0.05)(0.89)O-2 was synthesized through coprecipitation of a mixed hydroxide followed by calcination with LiOH center dot H2O during 10h at 500 degrees C and 950 degrees C. Electrochemical tests and their comparison with those obtained for an industrial Li(Ni1_y-zCoyAlz)O-2 material reveal that Li-1.11(Ni0.40Mn0.39Co0.16Al0.05)(0.89)O-2 shows good charge-discharge performance, even at high rate according to a protocol well established by car-makers for testing power abilities of batteries for electric and hybrid electric vehicles. In addition, this material shows a significant improvement in thermal stability in the highly deintercalated state (charged state of the battery) over the industrial material. Equivalent (or higher) energy and power densities with a significantly greater thermal stability make of Li-1.11(Ni0.40Mn0.39Co0.16Al0.05)(0.89)O-2 an interesting candidate as positive electrode material for large lithium-ion batteries. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.