Synthesis and structural characterization of some cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are under intense scrutiny as alternative energy/power sources. Their electrochemistry is based on intercalation/deintercalation reactions of lithium ions within a crystal structure of an electrode material. Therefore, the structure itself determines both the electrode operating voltage and the transport pathways for lithium ions. Some oxide- and polyanion-based materials are synthesized and studied as positive electrodes. Several synthetic routes were investigated. The crystal structure refinement of an X-ray powder diffraction data was based on the Rietveld full profile method. All relevant structural and microstructural crystal parameters that could be significant for electrochemical intercalation/deintercalation processes were determined. Structural analysis revealed different dimensionality of lithium ion motion. It was also shown that the structural and microstructural properties are significantly dependent on the synthesis condition.