Facile Synthesis of Platelike Hierarchical Li_1.2Mn_0.54Ni_0.13Co_0.13O₂ with Exposed {010} Planes for High-Rate and Long Cycling-Stable Lithium Ion Batteries

Lithium-rich layered oxides are promising cathode candidates for the production of high-energy and high-power electronic devices with high specific capacity and high discharge voltage. However, unstable cycling performance, especially at high charge-recharge rate, is the most challenge issue which needs to be solved to foster the diffusion of these materials. In this paper, hierarchical platelike Li_1.2Mn_0.54Ni_0.13Co_0.13O₂ cathode materials were synthesized by a facile solvothermal method followed by calcination. Calcination time was found to be a key parameter to obtain pure layered oxide phase and tailor its hierarchical morphology. The Li-rich material consists of primary nanoparticles with exposed {010} planes assembled to form platelike layers which exhibit low resistance to Li⁺ diffusion. In detail, the product by calcination at 900 °C for 12 h exhibits specific capacity of 228, 218, and 204 mA h g^-1 at 200, 400, and 1000 mA g^-1, respectively, whereas after 100 cycles at 1000 mA g^-1 rate of charge and recharge the specific capacity was retained by about 91%.