Synthesis of LiCoO2 Nanoparticles by a Sonochemical Method under the Multibubble Sonoluminescence Conditions

Abstract

LiCoO2, a cathode material for lithium rechargeable batteries, was prepared in a nanoscale through a simple sonochemistry. First, Co3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by reacting NaOH and CoCl2 or CoSO4 with a sonochemical method, operated at 20 kHz and 220 W for 20 min, very powerful multibubble sonoluminescence conditions for chemical reactions. Second, LiOH was coated onto the Co3O4 nanoparticles by the same method as above. Finally, LiCoO2 nanoparticles of about 10 similar to 30 nm size in diameter were obtained by the thermal treatment of the resulting LiOH-coated Co3O4 nanoparticles at 500 degrees C for 3 hr. This synthetic process is relatively quite mild and simple compared to the known method for the synthesis of LiCoO2 nanoparticles. The materials synthesized were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma spectrometer, and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy analyses.