Electrochemical properties of nano-sized LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 powders in the range from 56 to 101 nm prepared by flame spray pyrolysis

Graphical abstract: Nano-sized LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 powders are prepared by flame spray pyrolysis. A lithium excess of 15% of the stoichiometric amount in the spray solution produced powder with good electrochemical properties for use as a cathode. The mean particle sizes of the powders post-treated at 700 and 800 °C are 56 and 101 nm, respectively. The powder prepared with 15% excess lithium results in the highest initial discharge capacity of 174 mAh g−1. Highlights: ► Nano-sized LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 powders are prepared directly by flame spray pyrolysis. ► The mean particle sizes of the powders post-treated at 700 and 800 °C are 56 and 101 nm, respectively. ► The powder prepared with 15% excess lithium results in the highest initial discharge capacity of 174 mAh g−1. - Abstract: Nano-sized LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 powders in the range from 56 to 101 nm with hexagonal α-NaFeO2 structures are prepared directly by flame spray pyrolysis. Post-treatment of the powders at 700 °C increases their crystallinity and mean particle sizes. The intensity ratios of the powders' (0 0 3) and (1 0 4) peaks in the XRD patterns prepared from spray solutions with lithium excesses of 10, 15 and 20% of the stoichiometric amount are 0.83, 1.25 and 1.25, respectively. The powder prepared with 15% excess lithium results in the highest initial discharge capacity of 174 mAh g−1 when post-treated at 700 °C. The discharge capacity of the powder post-treated at 800 °C decreases from 168 to 120 mAh g−1 after 30 cycles.