Synthesis and properties of a spinel cathode material for lithium ion battery with flat potential plateau

A potential cathode material for lithium ion battery was synthesised by combustion reaction. The thermal behaviour of the as-synthesised precursor was measured using a thermogravimetric analyser and the range of calcination temperature from 500 $^{\circ}$C to 800 $^{\circ}$C was determined. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that all calcined powders crystallised in the cubic spinel structure of the $Fd\bar{3}m$ space group. The particle size distributions and morphologies of the powders were obtained using a particle size analyser and scanning electron microscope. The effect of calcination temperature on the electrochemical performance was investigated using galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements. The potential profiles of charge and discharge exhibited flat plateaus, emphasising that the synthesised batteries are not super capacitors. Results showed that the batteries prepared from powders calcined at 800 $^{\circ}$C exhibited higher coulombic efficiency and better cycling performance than powders calcined at 500 $^{\circ}$C.