Comparative Study Between 4-V LiMn₂O₄, LiCoO₂ and 3-V Li_0.3MnO₂, LiV₃O₈ as Cathode Materials for Li Batteries

Abstract

In the beginning of the 90s, the appearance of cathodes materials with high energy density based on lithiated transition metal oxides as Mn, Co, Ni and high discharge voltage of 4 Volts, shift the main interest to the lithium-ion batteries. Many authors in different R&D groups have started investigations of LiCoO₂, LiNiO₂ and LiMn₂O₄ as prospective cathode materials for 4 volts lithium or lithium-ion batteries. The theoretical value of gravimetric capacity of these materials is as follows: 275 mAh/g for cobaltate and nickelate and 148 mAh/g for the last one. The practical capacities differ much from the theoretical one: the utilization is 50–60% for the cobaltate and nickelate and about 70–80% for the manganese spinel. The Li_0.3MnO₂ and LiV₃O₈, both 3-volts cathode materials have theoretical capacities of 200 and 280mAh/g and exhibit more than 85% utilization.