Temperature dependent surface morphology and lithium diffusion kinetics of LiCoO2 cathode

In an attempt to understand the effect of synthesis temperature upon surface morphology and lithium diffusion kinetics of LiCoO2, the compound was synthesized at four different temperatures, viz., 600, 700, 800 and 900 degrees C using a novel gelatin-assisted combustion method. LiCoO2 synthesized at 800 degrees C is found to be a mixture of rhombohedral and cubic LiCoO2 and a temperature of 900 degrees C leads to the formation of cubic LiCo2O4 compound, thus favoring lower temperatures such as 600 and 700 degrees C to prepare phase pure rhombohedral LiCoO2. Cyclic voltametry and impedance spectral studies evidence that LiCoO2 synthesized at 600 degrees C exhibits better electrochemical cycling behavior and considerably reduced internal resistance upon cycling, which are substantiated further from the higher lithium diffusion coefficient value. The study demonstrates the possibility and superiority of synthesizing electrochemically active LiCoO2 with preferred surface morphology and better lithium diffusion kinetics at a relatively lower temperature of 600 degrees C, using a gelatin-assisted combustion method.