Conductivity and electrochemical performance of cathode xLi2MnO3·(1 − x)LiMn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3O2 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) at different temperatures

In this work, the conductivity and electrochemical performance of compounds xLi2MnO3·(1 − x)LiMn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3O2 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) at temperature −10, 25, and 45 °C were investigated. Both conductivity and electrochemical performance are dependent on the content of Li2MnO3 (x). The compound with x = 0.3 has a highest AC conductivity of 4.36 × 10−6 S cm−1 at room temperature. The conductivity is 8.64 × 10−7 S cm−1 at −10 °C, one order smaller than 9.98 × 10−6 S cm−1 at 45 °C. Furthermore, at a current density of 50 m Ag−1, the compound with composition at x = 0.3 showed an initial discharge capacity of 223.67 mA hg−1 at room temperature, which increased to 238.08 mA hg−1 at 45 °C and decreased to 114.5 mA hg−1 when testing temperature was decreased to −10 °C. Increasing the conductivity is an effective way to get better electrochemical performances of this kind of compound at different temperatures.

► The lithium-rich compounds were prepared by a novel molten salt route.
► The room temperature conductivities of lithium-rich compounds were determined.
► Electrochemical performances and conductivities of the compounds were studied.