Synthesis of 0.3Li2MnO3·0.7LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode materials using 3-D urchin-like MnO2 as precursor for high performance lithium ion battery

In the paper, we report synthesis of lithium rich layered oxide 0.3Li2MnO3·0.7LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 by using an urchin-like MnO2 as precursor. The influences of calcination temperatures on the structures and electrochemical performances of as-prepared materials are systematically studied. The results show that the obtained sample can partially retain the morphology of urchin-like precursor especially at low temperature, and a higher calcination temperature helps to improve the layered structure and particle size. As lithium ion battery cathodes, the 750 °C sample with the size of 100–200 nm reveals an optimal electrochemical performance. The initial discharge capacity of 234.6 mAh g−1 with high Coulombic efficiency of 84.6 % can be reached at 0.1C within 2.0–4.7 V. After 50 cycles, the capacity retention can reach 90.2 % at 0.5C. Even at high current density of 5C, the sample also shows a stable discharge capacity of 120.5 mAh g−1. Anyways, the urchin-like MnO2 directed route is suitable to prepare 0.3Li2MnO3·0.7LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 as lithium ion battery cathode.