Investigation on performances of Li1.2Co0.4Mn0.4O2 prepared by self-combustion reaction as stable cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Poor rate capability and cycling performance are the major barriers for Li-rich layered cathode materials to be applied as the next generation cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. In our work, Li1.2Co0.4Mn0.4O2 has been successfully synthesized via a self-combustion reaction (SCR) and a calcination procedure. Compared with the material produced by the solid state method (SSM), the one by SCR exhibits both better rate capability and cycling performance. Its initial discharge capacity is 166.01 mA h g−1 with the capacity retention of 85.98% after 50 cycles at a current density of 200 mA h g−1. Its remarkable performance is attributed to a thin carbon coating layer, which not only slows down the transformation rate of layered to spinel structure, but provides a good electronic pathway to increase the Li+ diffusion coefficient.