Effect of the impurity LixNi1−xO on the electrochemical properties of 5 V cathode material LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4

The formation of impurity Li_xNi_1−xO when synthesizing spinel LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ using solid state reaction method, and its influence on the electrochemical properties of product LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ were studied. The secondary phase Li_xNi_1−xO emerges at high temperature due to oxygen deficiency for LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ and partial reduction of Mn⁴⁺ to Mn³⁺ in LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄. Annealing process can diminish oxygen deficiency and inhibit impurity Li_xNi_1−xO. The impurity reduces the specific capacity of product, but it does not have obvious negative effect on cycle performance of product. The capacity of LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ that contains Li_xNi_1−xO can deliver about 120 mAh g⁻¹.