Fabrication of High‐Energy Li‐Ion Cells with Li4Ti5O12 Microspheres as Anode and 0.5 Li2MnO3⋅0.5 LiNi0.4Co0.2Mn0.4O2 Microspheres as Cathode

Abstract

In this work, we propose an effective way to prepare nanosized Li4 Ti5 O12 (LTO) microspheres and 0.5 Li2 MnO3 ⋅0.5 LiNi0.4 Co0.2 Mn0.4 O2 (NCM) microspheres by similar spray-drying methods. Both obtained materials are accumulated by primary nanoparticles and show a spherical morphology with particle distribution of 10-20 μm. The LTO microspheres deliver a tap density of 1.04 g cm(-3) , while the tap density of NCM microspheres is 2.07 g cm(-3) , which means an enhanced volumetric energy density. The as-prepared LTO microspheres have a reversible capacity of 170 mA h g(-1) at 0.1 C and a capacity retention of 97 % after 250 cycles at 1 C. The NCM microspheres have an initial discharge capacity of 270 mA h g(-1) with a corresponding Coulombic efficiency of 88 % at 0.03 C. Both materials show a relatively good rate capability. The Li4 Ti5 O12 /0.5 Li2 MnO3 ⋅0.5 LiNi0.4 Co0.2 Mn0.4 O2 cells deliver a high cathode specific capacity of 273 mA h g(-1) and good initial Coulombic efficiency of 88 % at 0.03 C, and can be developed for powering hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.