Optimization of the synthesis of Low-cobalt Li[Ni0.6Co0.1Mn0.3]O2 for use as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Low-cobalt Li[Ni0.6Co0.1Mn0.3]O2 cathode materials were synthesized by using a hydroxide coprecipitation method. Because we wanted to optimize the synthesis conditions, we studied the effects of different lithium contents and calcination temperature on the structural and the electrochemical properties of this unfamiliar cathode material. All as-prepared materials were indexed in the R-3m space group, and all samples showed different structural and electrochemical properties for different synthesis conditions. In particular, in the case of NCM-4 (lithium content: 1.09, calcination temperature: 850℃), the sample showed excellent electrochemical properties with a reversible specific capacity of 175.00 mAhg-1 [cut-off voltage: 3.0 ~ 4.3 V, 0.1 C (current density: 17 mAhg-1)] and a good capacity retention of 91.7% after 50 charge/discharge cycles [cut-off voltage: 3.0 ~ 4.3 V, 1 C (current density: 170 mAhg-1)].