LiCoO₂ thin film cathodes grown by sol–gel method

Abstract

Lithiated layered transitional metal oxide materials of the LiMO₂ type and especially LiCoO₂ presents interesting specific properties as high energy density, long cycle life and constant discharging properties in a wide range of working conditions as well as a good safety. These properties made these materials excellent candidates as active compounds for high capacity cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries. LiCoO₂ is the most common lithium storage material for lithium rechargeable batteries, used widely to power portable electronic devices. Operation of lithium rechargeable batteries is dependent on reversible lithium insertion and extraction processes into and from the host materials of lithium storage. In this study, LiCoO₂ thin films were prepared by the sol–gel spin coating technique using metal acetate and citric acid as starting materials. Citric acid acts as a chelating agent, which promotes the preliminary reaction between lithium and cobalt and suppresses the precipitation of acetates. The sol–gel method is well known as one of promising thin-film preparation methods, which has good advantages such as low fabrication cost, relatively easy stoichiometry control, high deposition rate and also known as a low-temperature synthesis method for various ceramics. In addition, the crystal phases involved in the thin film can also be controlled by changing the chemical compositions of the sol. The crystallinity, microstructure and electrochemical properties of final films are also studied by XRD, SEM, AFM and galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling test. Films heat-treated under appropriate conditions exhibit high capacity and good crystallinity so those films are considered to be candidates as cathodes for thin-film micro batteries.