Effect of PVP Coating on LiMnBO(3) Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries

LiMnBO(3) is a potential cathode for Li-ion batteries, but it suffers from a low electrochemical activity. To improve the electrochemical performance of LiMnBO(3), the effect of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as carbon additive was studied. Monoclinic LiMnBO(3)/C and LiMnBO(3)-MnO/C materials were obtained by a solid-state method at 500 °C. The structure, morphology and electrochemical behavior of these materials are characterized and compared. The results show that carbon additives and ball-milling dispersants affect the formation of impurities in the final products, but MnO is beneficial for the performance of LiMnBO(3). The sample of LiMnBO(3)-MnO/C delivered a high capacity of 162.1 mAh g(−1) because the synergistic effect of the MnO/C composite and the suppression of the PVP coating on particle growth facilitates charge transfer and lithium–ion diffusion.