Fabrication and electrochemical performance of 0.6Li 2MnO ₃-0.4Li(Ni_1/3 Co _1/3 Mn_1/3)O ₂ microspheres by two-step spray-drying process

0.6Li 2 MnO 3-0.4Li(Ni_1/3 Co _1/3 Mn 1/3)O₂ composite microspheres with dense structures are prepared by a two-step spray-drying process. Precursor powders with hollow and porous structures prepared by the spray-drying process are post-treated at a low temperature of 400°C and then wet-milled to obtain a slurry with high stability. The slurry of the mixture of metal oxides is spray-dried to prepare precursor aggregate powders several microns in size. Post-treatment of these powders at high temperatures (>700°C) produces 0.6Li 2 MnO 3-0.4Li(Ni_1/3 Co _1/3 Mn 1/3)O₂ composite microspheres with dense structures and high crystallinity. The mean size and geometric standard deviation of the composite microspheres post-treated at 9006C are 4 mmand 1.38, respectively. Further, the initial charge capacities of the aggregated microspheres post-treated at 700, 800, 900, and 10006C are 336, 349, 383, and 128 mA h g ^-1, respectively, and the corresponding discharge capacities are 286, 280, 302, and 77 mA h g^-1, respectively. The discharge capacity of the composite microspheres post-treated at an optimum temperature of 9006C after 100 cycles is 242 mA h g^-1, and the corresponding capacity retention is 80%.