A Facile Process for Surface Modification with Lithium Ion Conducting Material of Li2TiF6 for LiMn2O4 in Lithium Ion Batteries

A facile method for surface coating with $Li_2TiF_6$ which has a high lithium-ion conductivity, on $LiMn_2O_4$ spinel cathode material for high performance lithium ion batteries. The surface coating is performed by using a co-precipitation method with $Li_2CO_3$ powder and $H_2TiF_6$ solution under room temperature and atmospheric pressure without special equipment. Total coating amount of $Li_2TiF_6$ is carefully controlled from 0 to 10 wt.% based on the active material of $LiMn_2O_4$. They are evaluated by a systematic combination of analyses comprising with XRD, SEM, TEM and ICP. It is found that the surface modification of $Li_2TiF_6$ is very beneficial to high cycle life and excellent rate capability by reducing surface failure and supporting lithium ions transportation on the surface. The best coating condition is found to have a high cycle life of $103mAh\;g^{-1}$ at the 100th cycle and a rate capability of $102.9mAh\;g^{-1}$ under 20 C. The detail electrochemical behaviors are investigated by AC impedance and galvanostatic charge and discharge test.