Spray-Drying Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Lithium Vanadates as Positive Electrode Materials for Lithium Batteries

Three lithium vanadate materials with the nominal composition have been prepared by a spray-drying technique with subsequent heat-treatment (A) at , (B) at , and (C) at with carbon. They have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electronic conductivity, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface-area characterization, and electrochemical charge–discharge tests in lithium cells. The best material had a spherical aggregate morphology and exhibited, at in a narrow potential range of vs , at (C/3) a high discharge capacity of in the 2nd cycle and in the 60th cycle, respectively, which is to the best of our knowledge the best electrochemical performance reported so far for . The rate capability of these positive-electrode materials was found to be limited mainly by the lithium diffusion length in the primary particles.