Synthesis and electrochemical properties of Li(Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1)O2 cathode material: Ex situ structural analysis by Raman scattering and X-ray diffraction at various stages of charge–discharge process

Abstract Li(Ni 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 )O 2 cathode materials were synthesized by solid-state reaction route. Single-phase layer structure with hexagonal unit cell having R 3 ¯ m symmetry was obtained and the average particle size was around 6 μm. Electrochemical studies showed single redox reaction and a maximum charging capacity of ∼140 mAh g −1 was obtained. Ex situ structural studies by X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering at various stages of charging and discharging showed that the host layered structure is maintained throughout the electrochemical lithiation–delithiation processes in the 3–4.5 V range with systematic change in the lattice parameters. First discharge capacity was 132 mAh g −1 and the capacity retention was ∼86% after 20 charge–discharge cycles.