LAUSR

Abstract The sol-freeze-drying method is successfully applied to tune the structure of Co-free Li-rich Mn-based layered material (Li 1.2 Mn 0.6 Ni 0.2 O 2 ). The structure, morphology and electrochemical performances of the tuned materials are compared with its counterpart prepared by traditional sol-gel method. The results confirm that sol-freeze-drying method is an effective approach to homogenize the transition metal distribution in Li 1.2 Mn 0.6 Ni 0.2 O 2 without surface segregation of Ni. The specific capacity of Li 1.2 Mn 0.6 Ni 0.2 O 2 synthesized by sol-free-drying method is 232 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles at 0.2C with 96% of initial discharge capacity retained. It is much higher than the 182 mAh g −1 of Li 1.2 Mn 0.6 Ni 0.2 O 2 prepared by sol-gel method with poor capacity retention of 79%. Li 1.2 Mn 0.6 Ni 0.2 O 2 synthesized by sol-free-drying method delivers the capacities of 252, 220, 192, 148, and 84 mAh g −1 at rates of 0.1C, 0.5C, 1C, 2C, and 5C, respectively. Besides, impedance spectroscopy shows that the charge-transfer resistance of Li 1.2 Mn 0.6 Ni 0.2 O 2 synthesized by sol-free-drying method after 20 cycles increases from 43 Ω to 51 Ω, which is much lower than that of Li 1.2 Mn 0.6 Ni 0.2 O 2 prepared by sol-gel method from 42 Ω to 78 Ω.