Novel soft solution synthesis and characterization of submicromic LiCoVO4

A novel soft solution process has been used to prepare LiCoVO4 by reacting Co(CH3CH2COO)2, Li2CO3, NH4VO3 and citric acid. LiCoVO4 powders were successfully prepared at as low as 450 deg. C in 4 h. Compared to the solid-state reaction processes, the soft solution process greatly reduced the temperature and the time for preparing LiCoVO4. The inverse spinel structure and high crystallinity of the synthesized product has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Thermal analysis proves that the phase formation of the compound occurs at about 450 deg. C. The results of the IR investigations show that the band located at 820 cm-1 corresponds to the stretching vibration mode of VO4 tetrahedron with the A1 symmetry. SEM examination reveals a spherical grain distribution, the average particle size being typically lower than 1 μm. The quantitative result from ICP-AES analysis is Li0.967Co0.994VO4