Structure and electrochemical properties of Zn and Co dual-doped (Li2Co1-xZnxMn3O8) as cathode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

Spinel Zn doped Li2CoMn3O8 (or also known as LiCo0.5Mn1.5O4) yielding formula Li2Co1-xZnxMn3O8 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) were produced via conventional solid state method. XRD results and the variation of cell lattice and volume showed that the solid solution limit of these compositions was at x=0.6. Impurities were detected when the amount of Zn was beyond 60 %. The discharge capacities deteriorate as Zn content was increased. However, these Zn doped samples exhibited excellent cycle-ability (99.9% capacity retention) throughout 50 charging and discharging cycles which indicated that doping of Zn could possibly stabilised the spinel structure.