Ball-milling Synthesis and Electrochemical Study of Lithium (Transition) Metal Nitrides

Lithium (transition) metal nitrides were synthesized by high-energy ball-milling technique. The obtained samples exhibit high electrochemical activity and reversibility. The average capacity of Li2.6Co0.4N samples is ca. 880mAh·g-1 within the first 10 cycles. Li2.6Co0.2Cu0.2N sample has a capacity about 750mAh·g-1 after the first several cycles. 80% of its second cycle capacity can be retained at the 45th cycle. Li2.6Co0.2Fe0.2N sample is a mixture of two or more phases including Li2.6Co0.4N. It has a capacity about 560 mAh·g-1 at the 40th cycle, 82% of its second cycle capacity. Good cycling performance suggests that these compounds could be promising anode materials for lithium ion batteries.