Preparation and Performance Investigation of Carbon-Coated Li_1.2Mn_0.2Ti_0.6O₂/C Cathode Materials

Mn-based cation disordered rock-salt (DRX) cathode materials exhibit promising application prospects due to their cost-effectiveness and high specific capacity. However, the synthesis methods commonly employed for these materials rely on the solid-state reaction method and mechanochemistry method, primarily attributed to the influence of low-valence states of Mn. Currently, sol-gel approaches for preparing Mn-based DRX cathode materials are limited to systems involving Mn³⁺. Furthermore, there is a paucity of research regarding the modification of Mn-based DRX. To address this concern, the submicrometer-sized carbon-coated Li_1.2Mn_0.2Ti_0.6O₂/C materials were synthesized via a one-step sintering process using the sol-gel method with sucrose as the carbon source, resulting in smaller particle sizes compared to those prepared by the solid-state reaction at the same temperature. When employed as a cathode material for lithium batteries, samples prepared with 10 wt % sucrose exhibited exceptional cycling stability by delivering an initial discharge specific capacity of 119.6 mA h g^-1 (at a current density of 20 mA g^-1). After 20 charge-discharge cycles, a reversible specific capacity of 91.0 mA h g^-1 was achieved, with a capacity retention rate of 76.1%. This approach provides distinctive insights and strategies for the preparation and modification of manganese-titanium-based disordered rock-salt cathode materials.