Electrochemical Stability of Spinel Electrodes Coated with ZrO₂, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂ from Colloidal Suspensions

J.-S. Kim,^a C. S. Johnson,^a J. T. Vaughey,^a S. A. Hackney,^b K. A. Walz,^c W. A. Zeltner,^c M. A. Anderson,^c and M. M. Thackeray^a

^aArgonne National Laboratory, Electrochemical Technology Program, Chemical Engineering Division, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA ^bDepartment of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA ^cEnvironmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA

Stoichiometric LiMn₂O₄ and substituted Li_1.05M_0.05Mn_1.9O₄ (M = Al,Ni) spinel electrodes, coated with ZrO₂, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂ from colloidal suspensions, have been evaluated in lithium cells. ZrO₂-coated Li_1.05Ni_0.05Mn_1.9O₄ electrodes provide the best cycling stability at 50°C. The excellent cycling stability is attributed to a porous network of amphoteric ZrO₂ particles, less than 4 nm in dimension, that protect the spinel surface from acid attack by scavenging HF and H₂O from the electrolyte, while still allowing access of the electrolyte to the active electrode.

Copyright © 2004, The Electrochemical Society, Inc.

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