Nanoscale Coating of LiMO2 (M = Ni, Co, Mn) Nanobelts with Li+-Conductive Li2TiO3: Toward Better Rate Capabilities for Li-Ion Batteries

By using a novel coating approach based on the reaction between MC2O4 center dot xH(2)O and Ti(OC4H9)(4), a series of nanoscale Li2TiO3-coated LiMO2 nanobelts with varied Ni, Co, and Mn contents was prepared for the first time. The complete, thin Li2TiO3 coating layer strongly adheres to the host material and has a 3D diffusion path for Li+ ions. It is doped with Ni2+ and Co3+ ions in addition to Ti4+ in LiMO2, both of which were found to favor Li+-ion transfer at the interface. As a result, the coated nanobelts show improved rate, cycling, and thermal capabilities when used as the cathode for Li-ion battery.