Science Daily October 23, 2023
Layered LiCoO2 is usually synthesized after a prolonged sintering process at high temperatures for 10–20 h. Researchers in Japan have developed a “hydroflux process” to obtain highly crystalline and layered LiCoO2 at a low temperature within 30 min. They found that the molten mixed hydroxide-containing water molecules significantly accelerated the formation of LiCoO2, which showed a highly reversible capacity of 120 mAh g–1 without post annealing. The reaction mechanism study showed fast growth of LiCoO2 crystals suggesting that the excess molten hydroxides containing water dissolved the cobalt species of HCoO2 and suppressed the competing reaction of Co3O4 formation, which led to spinel LiCoO2 formation at low temperatures. Excess water in the starting materials further accelerated the crystal growth of LiCoO2, forming large particles (>1 μm), and the layered LiCoO2 began to form at 150 °C. The study proves the thermodynamic stability of layered LiCoO2 at 150-300 deg. C. According to the researchers their process offers significant energy savings in the production process of LiCoO2 and other ceramic materials… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical abstract. Credit: Inorg. Chem. 2023, XXXX, XXX, XXX-XXX, October 23, 2023