Optimization and Characterization of Lithium Ion Cathode Materials in the System (1 – x – y)LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 • xLi2MnO3 • yLiCoO2

There is ongoing effort to identify novel materials that have performance better than LiCoO2. The objective of this work is to explore materials in the system (1 – x – y) LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 • xLi2MnO3 • yLiCoO2. A ternary composition diagram was used to identify sample points, and compositions for testing were initially chosen. Detailed characterization of the synthesized materials was done, including Rietveld Refinement of XRD data, XPS analysis for valence state of transition-metals, SEM for microstructure details, and TGA for thermal stability of the materials. Electrochemical performance showed that discharge capacities on the order of 230 mAh/g were obtained. Preliminary results showed that these materials exhibit good cycling capabilities thereby positioning these materials as promising for Li-ion battery applications.