Effect of titanium substitution in layered LiNiO2 cathode material prepared by molten-salt synthesis

LiNi1-xTixO2 (0 <= x <= 0.1) compounds have been synthesized by a direct molten-salt method that uses a eutectic mixture of LiNO3 and LiOH salts. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, these materials have a well-developed layered structure (R3-m) and are an isostructure of LiNiO2. The LiNi1-xTixO2 (0 <= x <= 0.1) compounds have average particle sizes of 1-5 mu m depending on the amount of Ti salt. Charge-discharge tests show that a LiNi1-xTixO2 (0 <= x <= 0.1) cathode prepared at 700 degrees C has an initial discharge capacity as high as 171 mA h g(-1) and excellent capacity retention in the range 4.3-2.8 V at a current density of 0.2 mA cm(-2) (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.