title: Understanding Performance Differences from Various Synthesis Methods: A Case Study of Spinel LiCr0.2Ni0.4Mn1.4O4Cathode Material.
abstract: High voltage (5-V class) spinel LiCr0.2Ni0.4Mn1.4O4is one of the most promising cathode materials to meet the energy requirements of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. For the mass production of this material (1 kg or higher), different synthesis routes will lead to different electrochemical performances, even with similar morphology and similar crystal structure obtained from laboratory X-ray diffraction, and the reason for this issue is still not clear. Herein, we have investigated the reasons for the different electrochemical performances resulting from three common synthesis routes (spray pyrolysis, coprecipitation, and sol-gel). Taking advantage of the high-resolution X-ray beam in synchrotron X-ray diffraction, we find that varying phase composition and the generated impurities, rather than the particle distribution, are likely to be the main reasons for the detected electrochemical variations. A higher amount of impurities will result in greater charge transfer resistance, inferior cycling stability, and more oxygen/lithium vacancies. Therefore, it is very important to obtain a deeper understanding with the help of higher-resolution X-rays and to provide better guidance for mass production of this cathode material for practical applications.
authors: Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong , Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.|College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610065, PR China.
authors: Mingzhe
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong , Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: Hu
authors: College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610065, PR China.
authors: Zhenguo
authors: Z
authors: Wu
authors: College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610065, PR China.
authors: Weibo
authors: W
authors: Hua
authors: National Institute for Materials Science , Tsukuba, lbaraki 305-0047, Japan.
authors: Kiyoshi
authors: K
authors: Ozawa
authors: Australian Synchrotron , 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors: Qinfen
authors: Q
authors: Gu
authors: Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul , Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yong-Mook
authors: YM
authors: Kang
authors: College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610065, PR China.
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong , Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Shu-Lei
authors: SL
authors: Chou
authors: Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong , Innovation Campus, Squires Way, North Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors: Shi-Xue
authors: SX
authors: Dou
keywords: LiCr0.2Ni0.4Mn1.4O4; impurities; lithium-ion battery; synchrotron XRD; synthesis methods