Tartaric acid-assisted sol–gel synthesis of LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 and its electrochemical properties as a cathode material for lithium batteries

Polycrystalline, single phase LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 was synthesized by a low temperature tartaric acid-assisted sol–gel method under various conditions. The advantages of low temperature solution-based synthesis have been exploited to produce LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 by varying the synthesis time and temperature. Also, the effect of different lithium stoichiometry x in LixNi0.8Co0.2O2 on the electrochemical performance was studied. In the present study, the optimum temperature and time were 800 °C and 12 h. The electrochemical performance of the synthesized material was promising with the first discharge capacity of 174 mAh/g and 165 mAh/g after 10 cycles with a 100% cycling efficiency in the 10th cycle. The synthesis of LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 and its improved electrochemical properties have been discussed in detail.