Preparation of Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O2 powders for cathode material in secondary battery by solid-state method

Employing Li2CO3, NiO, Co3O4, and MnCO3 powders as starting materials, Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O2 was synthesized by solid-state reaction method. Various grinding aids were applied during milling in order to optimize the synthesis process. After successive heat treatments at 650 and 950 ℃, the prepared powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The powders prepared by adding salt (NaCl) as grinding aid exhibit a clear R3m layer structure. The powders by other grinding aids like heptane show some impurity peaks in the XRD pattern. The former powders show a uniform particle size distribution of less than 1 μm average size while the latter shows a wide distribution ranging from 1 to 10 μm. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysiss show that the ratio of Ni, Co, and Mn content in the powder is approximately 1/3, 1/3, and 1/3, respecively. The EDX data indicate no incorporation of sodium or chlorine into the powders. Charge-discharge tests gave an initial discharge capacity of 160 mAh·g-1 for the powders with NaCl addition while 70 mAh·g-1 for the powders with heptane.