Synthesis–Structure Relationships in Li- and Mn-rich Layered Oxides

• Li- and Mn-rich layered oxides are promising positive electrode materials for future Li-ion batteries. The coexistence of complex crystallographic features like cation-mixing and stacking faults make them highly susceptible to synthesis-induced crystallographic changes. Consequently, this has resulted in significant variations in the reported structure of these materials and exacerbated the difficulty in understanding the crystallography of these materials. Here, the effect of synthesis methods and annealing parameters on the average structure of three Li- and Mn-rich layered oxides—Li2MnO3, Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 and Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2—have been systematically investigated. Each compound is synthesized through two methods using four annealing protocols and the resultant structural changes are studied, to improve our understanding of the synthesis–structure relationships in these materials. Furthermore, synthesis-specific thermodynamic and kinetic factors governing the equilibrium crystallography of each composition are also explored. Improving our understanding of how the synthesis affects the pristine structure of these materials is an important step in developing these material systems for use as future positive electrode materials.

Keyword

Li- and Mn-rich layered oxides

synthesis-structure relationships

cathode materials

superstructure reflections

stacking faults

Kemi med inriktning mot materialkemi

Chemistry with specialization in Materials Chemistry

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)