Synthesis of Li (Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3) O2 by Glycine Nitrate combustion process

Glycine Nitrate Combustion (GNC) method was successfully employed for the synthesis of Li(Ni_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3)O₂ with powder characteristics appropriate for the cathode of rechargeable  Li-ion batteries (LIBs). The outcome of this study proposed an optimum value of 0.6 for the Glycine: Nitrate ratio to obtain phase pure, well crystalline and rather spherical shaped Li(Ni_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3)O₂ micron size secondary particles by the GNC process. These secondary particles were composed of softly agglomerated primary particles of 200 - 300 nm in size. This particle morphology is regarded as a highly favorable for the functioning as a cathode in LIB. The electrical conductivity of Li (Ni_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3) O₂, determined by the dc four-probe technique, revealed the semiconducting nature with conductivity of the order of 10^-7 S cm^-1, at  25 °C. Lithium ion half-cell constructed with this prepared cathode material showed initial discharge capacity of 187 mAhg^-1 with irreversible capacity of 25 mAhg^-1 at C/5 rate with a cut-off voltage of 2.5 - 4.6 V, at 25 °C. This performance can be attributed to the highly favorable particle morphology obtained by the successful use of GNC process for the powder synthesis.