Microwave synthesis of LiCoO2 cathode materials

LiCoO2 powder used as cathode material for lithium ion battery was synthesized by microwave heating markedly affect the purity, morphology and electrochemical behaviors of the samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns display that the samples synthesized at 360 W for 10 min are pure layered LiCoO2, and SEM photos show that the powders are crystalline with well-defined facets whose sizes are about 5 μm. The performance of Co3O4 and starting materials by microwave heating and conventional heating was investigated. It is indicated that Co3O4 decomposes into CoO in microwave field at 750 ℃ and the mechanism of preparing LiCoO2 by microwave heating is different from that by conventional heating. The electrochemical behaviors of samples were tested. As a result, the highest specific discharge capacity is 134.3 mAh/g and the coulomb efficiency is 92.56%.