Effect of sintering temperature on cycling performance and rate performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2

LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 powder was prepared by mixing LiOH·H2O and co-precipitated Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1(OH)2 at a molar ratio of 1:1.05, followed by sintering at different temperatures. The effects of temperature on the morphology, structure and electrochemical performance were extensively studied. SEM and XRD results demonstrate that the sintering temperature has large influence on the morphology and structure and suitable temperature is very important to obtain spherical materials and suppresses the ionic distribution. The charge-discharge tests show that the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 powders becomes better with the increase of temperature from 700 °C to 750 °C and higher temperature will deteriorate the performance. Although both of materials obtained at 750 °C and 780 °C demonstrate almost identical cyclic stability at 2C rate, which delivers 71.9% retention after 200 cycles, the rate performance of powder calcined at 780 °C is much poorer than that at 750 °C. The XRD results demonstrate that the poor performance is ascribed to more severe ionic distribution caused by higher temperature.