The morphology of the precursors and end products (crystals) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using a LEO Gemini 1530. The particle size and its distribution were determined from the SEM images with the help of the image measuring software ImageJ (Image Processing and Analysis, Wayne Rasband, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). Statistical analysis was performed using Origin (Origin Version 6.0, Microcal, Northampton, MA).Electrochemical Testing: Cathode samples were prepared by mixing 20 wt.-% acetylene black and 20 wt.-% wt poly(tetrafluoroethylene) with 60 wt.-% of our LiCoO 2 as an active material. The mixture was pressed with 10 5 kPa onto aluminum foil as a current collector. The complex cathode was punched into 1 cm 1 cm sized pieces.The half cells were prepared by assembling the complex LiCoO 2 cathode, a polyethylene separator, and a lithium-metal foil as a counter electrode. All cells were assembled in an Ar-filled glove box. As liquid electrolyte, a 1 M LiPF 6 solution in a 1:1 mixture of ethylene and dimethyl carbonate was used. The electrochemical tests were conducted at 25.0 C with a 20 h charging and discharging rate (C/20 rate). The ªC-rateº defines the rate at which the battery is charged or discharged per hour relative to its total charge capacity; e.g., a battery rated at 180 mA h g ±1 provides 180 mA g ±1 for one hour if discharged with C/1, while the same battery discharged with C/20 provides 9 mA g ±1 for twenty hours.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.