Fabricated and improved electrochemical properties of layered lithium-rich Co-free manganese-based Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

To meet the development needs of high-performance and low-cost lithium-ion batteries, lithium-rich Co-free manganese-based cathode materials have become the primary choice for future power batteries based on the advantages of low cost and improved battery performance. Herein, Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 is prepared by the high-temperature solid-state method. The impacts of calcination temperature, holding time, and heating rate on the microstructure and properties of cathode materials are systematically studied via orthogonal experiments. Results revealed that Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 prepared by the high-temperature solid-state method at a calcination temperature of 900 degrees C, holding time of 12 h, and heating rate of 15 degrees C/min is ideal, with a smaller particle size and uniform particle distribution and a lower agglomeration degree, and the initial discharge specific capacity reaches 148.4 mAh<middle dot>g(-1) at 0.1 C. The discharge specific capacity of 102.8 mAh<middle dot>g(-1) is still maintained after 100 charge-discharge cycles. Among the various factors, holding time has the greatest influence on the lithium-rich Co-free manganese-based cathode material. The crystallinity, electrochemical properties, and microstructure of the material prepared at 12 h were considerably better than those prepared under other conditions. Test findings show that with a small particle size and uniform distribution, the synthesized cathode material has better rate and cycle performances.