The effects of sintering temperature and time on the structure and electrochemical performance of LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 cathode materials derived from sol-gel method

LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 cathode materials were synthesized by the sol-gel method using citric acid as a chelating agent. The effects of sintering temperature and time on the structure and electrochemical performance of the materials were investigated. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, together with refinement analysis by the Rietveld method. The results showed that sintering temperature and time had significant influence on the structure of the materials. The lattice parameters (a, c, c/a and volume) and the amount of Ni in the Li 3a site showed a peak shape change with sintering temperature and time. The sample sintering at 998 K for 24 h showed the best ordering layered structure with the maximum c/a ratio and the least amount of Ni on the Li 3a site. The charge-discharge experiments also indicated that the sample had the best electrochemical properties, with an initial capacity of 181 mA h/g and a capacity retention of 82.9% after 50 cycles at a 0.1 C rate between 3.0 V and 4.2 V. In addition, the compositional homogeneity of these cathode materials derived using the sol-gel method was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive analysis.