Facile synthesis of fusiform layered oxides assisted by microwave as cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

•LiMn0.25Ni0.5Co0.25O2 is obtained by microwave solvothermal reaction.•Material synthesized at 800 °C exhibits fusiform hierarchical morphology.•High initial discharge capacity of 183 mAh g−1 is reached at 0.1C.•154 mAh g−1 is remained with a capacity retention of 84.2% after 100 cycles.•Excellent rate capability is also obtained.

A facile microwave solvothermal reaction is performed to synthesize novel LiMn0.25Ni0.5Co0.25O2 ternary layered oxide with 1 D fusiform morphology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that material synthesized at 800 °C well keeps the fusiform morphology of the precursor with a particle size of 100-300 nm. All the three elements are perfectly dispersed and a well-formed layered structure is obtained. Thus, good electrochemical performances with high initial discharge capacity of 183 mAh g−1 is reached. Furthermore, high discharge capacity of 154 mAh g−1 is remained with a capacity retention of 84.2% after 100 cycles at 20 mA g−1. Excellent rate capability is also obtained with high discharge capacity of 99 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1. It seems such facile microwave solvothermal method is one of the most promising candidates for preparing ternary layered oxides with excellent electrochemical properties as cathode material for lithium ion batteries.

Graphical abstractFusiform layered oxides synthesized by microwave solvothermal reaction with excellent electrochemical property as cathode material for lithium-ion batteries.Download high-res image (185KB)Download full-size image