Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of nano-crystalline LiCoO₂ powder by a novel sol-gel thermolysis process for Li-ion batteries

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂) which is being widely used as cathode material powder was prepared by a novel sol-gel thermolysis process using urea and PVA in pH~2 and pH~5 respectively at a low temperature of 390°C. Thermal study shows that the complete crystallization and/or phase formation of the compound is at 390°C. The XRD analysis confirm that the product obtained at pH~2 has more single phase than the product obtained at pH~5. SEM studies shows that the average grain size of the powder is <1μm. In order to assess the electrochemical reversibility of the prepared LiCoO₂, cyclic voltammetry study was carried out by fabricating button cell in the configuration of Carbon/MPPE/LiCoO₂.