Influence of chemical prehistory on the phase formation and electrochemical performance of LiCoO 2 materials

Abstract

Thermal decomposition of freeze-dried salt precursors leads to the formation of low-temperature (LT) modification of LiCoO 2 at 350–450 °C. The conversion rate of LT into high-temperature (HT) modification at 850 °C depends greatly on the anion composition of salt precursors and correlates quite well with the appearance of second step at thermogravimetric curves of their thermal decomposition related to the solid-state reaction between Li 2CO 3 and Co 3O 4. Relationship between the appearance of Co 3O 4 and preferential formation of LT/HT polymorphs at reduced temperatures is discussed. The consecutive formation of LT and HT modifications during solid-state reaction between Li 2CO 3 and Co 3O 4 at T>800 °C was observed. LiCoO 2 cathode materials with the domination of LT polymorph demonstrated a better initial discharge capacity while a greater amount of HT modification is accompanied by better reversibility of charge–discharge processes.