Synthesis and characterization of Li[(Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1)0.8(Ni0.5Mn0.5)0.2]O2 with the microscale core-shell structure as the positive electrode material for lithium batteries.

The high capacity of Ni-rich Li[Ni(1-x)M(x)]O(2) (M = Co, Mn) is very attractive, if the structural instability and thermal properties are improved. Li[Ni(0.5)Mn(0.5)]O(2) has good thermal and structural stabilities, but it has a low capacity and rate capability relative to the Ni-rich Li[Ni(1-x)M(x)]O(2). We synthesized a spherical core-shell structure with a high capacity (from the Li[Ni(0.8)Co(0.1)Mn(0.1)]O(2) core) and a good thermal stability (from the Li[Ni(0.5)Mn(0.5)]O(2) shell). This report is about the microscale spherical core-shell structure, that is, Li[Ni(0.8)Co(0.1)Mn(0.1)]O(2) as the core and a Li[Ni(0.5)Mn(0.5)]O(2) as the shell. A high capacity was delivered from the Li[Ni(0.8)Co(0.1)Mn(0.1)]O(2) core, and a high thermal stability was achieved by the Li[Ni(0.5)Mn(0.5)]O(2) shell. The core-shell structured Li[(Ni(0.8)Co(0.1)Mn(0.1))(0.8)(Ni(0.5)Mn(0.5))(0.2)]O(2)/carbon cell had a superior cyclability and thermal stability relative to the Li[Ni(0.8)Co(0.1)Mn(0.1)]O(2) at the 1 C rate for 500 cycles. The core-shell structured Li[(Ni(0.8)Co(0.1)Mn(0.1))(0.8)(Ni(0.5)Mn(0.5))(0.2)]O(2) as a new positive electrode material is a significant breakthrough in the development of high-capacity lithium batteries.