Thermal Decomposition Study on Li2O2 for Li2NiO2 Synthesis as a Sacrificing Positive Additive of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Herein, thermal decomposition experiments of lithium peroxide (Li2O2) were performed to prepare a precursor (Li2O) for sacrificing cathode material, Li2NiO2. The Li2O2 was prepared by a hydrometallurgical reaction between LiOH·H2O and H2O2. The overall reaction during annealing was found to involve the following three steps: (1) dehydration of LiOH·H2O, (2) decomposition of Li2O2, and (3) pyrolysis of the remaining anhydrous LiOH. This stepwise reaction was elucidated by thermal gravimetric and quantitative X-ray diffraction analyses. Furthermore, over-lithiated lithium nickel oxide (Li2NiO2) using our lithium precursor was synthesized, which exhibited a larger yield of 90.9% and higher irreversible capacity of 261 to 265 mAh g-1 than the sample prepared by commercially purchased Li2O (45.6% and 177 to 185 mAh g-1, respectively) due to optimal powder preparation conditions.