Novel synthetic approaches to LiCoBO3 cathode material and its electrochemical properties

Novel synthetic approaches were employed to obtain LiCoBO3-based cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. Borate samples comprising different morphologies and particle sizes were synthesized using hydrothermal and polyacrylamide gel methods. Despite the difference in the samples, the materials demonstrated similar electrochemical behavior: Li+ deintercalation proceeded via decomposition of the borate phase, which is caused by catalytic oxidation of the solvent by Co3+ ions. This instability was likely caused by a non-typical five-fold coordination of Co3+ ions in the crystal structure of the delithiated borate.