Synthesis and characterization of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co 1/3O2 by wet-chemical method

A series of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 samples with ??-NaFeO2 structure were synthesized using tartaric acid as a chelating agent by wet chemical method. Different acid to metal-ion ratios R have been used to investigate the effect of this parameter on the physical and electrochemical properties. The cationic mixing (Ni on the 3a Li sites) have been evaluated by Rietveld refinement and magnetic measurements We determined that the LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O 2 sintered at 900??C for 15 h with an acid to metal ion ratio R=2 was the optimum condition for this synthesis. For this optimized sample, only 1.26% of nickel-ions occupied the 3a Wyckoff site of the lithium-ion sublattice. This material delivered an initial discharge capacity of 172 mAh/g and displayed Coulomb efficiency of 94%. ?The Electrochemical Society.EI