Spray-Drying Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Lithium Vanadates as Positive Electrode Materials for Lithium Batteries

Three lithium vanadate materials with the nominal composition Li 1.1 V 3 O 8 have been prepared by a spray-drying technique with subsequent heat-treatment (A) at 320°C, (B) at 585°C, and (C) at 585°C with carbon. They have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electronic conductivity, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface-area characterization, and electrochemical charge-discharge tests in lithium cells. The best material had a spherical aggregate morphology and exhibited, at 25°C in a narrow potential range of 2.0-3.3 V vs Li/Li + , at 116 mA/g (C/3) a high discharge capacity of 260 mAh/g in the 2nd cycle and 220 mAh/g in the 60th cycle, respectively, which is to the best of our knowledge the best electrochemical performance reported so far for Li 1.1 V 3 O 8 . The rate capability of these positive-electrode materials was found to be limited mainly by the lithium diffusion length in the primary particles.