Synthesis and electrochemical properties of Li(Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1)O2 cathode material: Ex situ structural analysis by Raman scattering and X-ray diffraction at various stages of charge–discharge process

Li(Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1)O2 cathode materials were synthesized by solid-state reaction route. Single-phase layer structure with hexagonal unit cell having R3 ̅m symmetry was obtained and the average particle size was around 6 μm. Electrochemical studies showed single redox reaction and a maximum charging capacity of~ 140 mAh g−1 was obtained. Ex situ structural studies by X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering at various stages of charging and discharging showed that the host layered structure is maintained throughout the electrochemical lithiation–delithiation processes in the 3–4.5 V range with systematic change in the lattice parameters. First discharge capacity was 132 mAh g−1 and the capacity retention was ~86% after 20 charge–discharge cycles.