High rate performance of Li[Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3]O₂ synthesized via co-precipitation method by different precipitators

In the present study, we investigated the effect of three different precipitators (NaOH, Na₂CO₃ and (NH₄)₂CO₃) on the synthesized layered Li[Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3]O₂ cathode materials via co-precipitation method. The obtained compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. The XRD patterns analysis showed that all the resulted Li[Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3]O₂ materials possess a layered hexagonal structure. It was found that at high discharge rate (2C), the prepared Li[Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3]O₂ system using Na₂CO₃ as the precipitator exhibits better cycling performance in the charge-discharge tests compared to others, indicating that Na₂CO₃ is an optimum precipitator. After 100 cycles at 2C discharge rate in the voltage range from 2.8 to 4.5 vs. Li/Li⁺, the Li[Ni_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3]O₂ system using Na₂CO₃ as the precipitator retains 97% of its initial discharge capacity.