Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of nano-crystalline LiCoO2 powder by a novel sol-gel thermolysis process for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO,) which is being widely used as cathode material powder was prepared by a novel sol-gel thermolysis process using urea and PVA in pH-2 and pH-5 respectively at a low temperature of 390°C. Thermal study shows that the complete crystallization and/or phase forma-tion of the compound is at 390°C. The XRD analysis confirm that the product obtained at pH—2 has more single phase than the product obtained at pH-5. SEM studies shows that the average grain size of the powder is <1 gm. In order to assess the electrochemical reversibility of the prepared LiCo02, cyclic voltammetry study was carried out by fabr-icating button cell in the configuration of Carbon/ M PPE /LiCo02