# LiCoO₂: the layered oxide cathode

> Lithium cobalt oxide, the cathode of the first lithium-ion cells, is built of CoO₂ slabs with lithium in the layers between them, where it can move freely in two dimensions. Charging pulls lithium out to Li₁₋ₓCoO₂ near 3.9 V; at about half the lithium the ions order and the lattice distorts, so in practice only about half of the 274 mAh g⁻¹ is used.

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- Open in the LabCanvas editor (LabCanvas account): https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?template=licoo2-layered-oxide-cathode
- Updated: 2026-10-14
- Category: Battery materials
- Method: Layered oxide cathode
- Starting materials: Lithium and cobalt salts or oxides, heated together in air
- Product: Layered LiCoO₂: CoO₂ slabs with lithium between them (R-3m)
- Key result: Pattern computed from the refined structure: (003) near 18.9° and (104) near 45.2° (Cu Kα)
- Figure: 1920 × 1080 px, 59 editable layers (3 generated objects with settings)

## Steps

1. **Structure**: α-NaFeO₂ type, R-3m, a = 2.82 Å, c = 14.1 Å: edge-sharing CoO₆ octahedra in slabs, Li in octahedral sites between them
2. **2D diffusion**: Li⁺ hops from site to site within its layer
3. **Charging**: Li₁₋ₓCoO₂: two-phase regions for 0 < x < ¼ and ¾ < x < 1, a single phase between; open-circuit voltage 3.92 V for 0 < x < ¼ (Ohzuku & Ueda 1994)
4. **Near x = ½**: Lithium ions order and the cell turns monoclinic (Reimers & Dahn 1992)

## Strengths

- High voltage, about 3.9 V against lithium
- Dense, easy to make
- Fast 2D lithium diffusion

## Limitations

- Only about half the lithium is used
- Cobalt is costly and scarce
- Unstable when charged too far

## Uses

- Phones, laptops and other portable electronics

## References

1. Mizushima, Jones, Wiseman & Goodenough, “LixCoO2 (0<x≤1): A new cathode material for batteries of high energy density”, Mater. Res. Bull. 1980. https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-5408(80)90012-4 (primary)
2. Ohzuku & Ueda, “Solid-State Redox Reactions of LiCoO2 (R3m) for 4 Volt Secondary Lithium Cells”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 1994. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2059267 (primary)
3. Reimers & Dahn, “Electrochemical and In Situ X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Lithium Intercalation in LixCoO2”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 1992. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2221184 (primary)
4. Whittingham, “Lithium Batteries and Cathode Materials”, Chem. Rev. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr020731c (review)

Credit: After Mizushima et al., Mater. Res. Bull. 1980 (doi:10.1016/0025-5408(80)90012-4), Ohzuku & Ueda, J. Electrochem. Soc. 1994 (doi:10.1149/1.2059267) and Reimers & Dahn 1992. Structure from refined positions; pattern computed; voltage curve schematic.

## Questions

**What does the “LiCoO₂: the layered oxide cathode” template show?** Lithium cobalt oxide, the cathode of the first lithium-ion cells, is built of CoO₂ slabs with lithium in the layers between them, where it can move freely in two dimensions. Charging pulls lithium out to Li₁₋ₓCoO₂ near 3.9 V; at about half the lithium the ions order and the lattice distorts, so in practice only about half of the 274 mAh g⁻¹ is used.

**What are the steps shown in “LiCoO₂: the layered oxide cathode”?** 1. Structure: α-NaFeO₂ type, R-3m, a = 2.82 Å, c = 14.1 Å: edge-sharing CoO₆ octahedra in slabs, Li in octahedral sites between them. 2. 2D diffusion: Li⁺ hops from site to site within its layer. 3. Charging: Li₁₋ₓCoO₂: two-phase regions for 0 < x < ¼ and ¾ < x < 1, a single phase between; open-circuit voltage 3.92 V for 0 < x < ¼ (Ohzuku & Ueda 1994). 4. Near x = ½: Lithium ions order and the cell turns monoclinic (Reimers & Dahn 1992).

**What are the starting materials and the product?** Starting materials: Lithium and cobalt salts or oxides, heated together in air. Product: Layered LiCoO₂: CoO₂ slabs with lithium between them (R-3m).

**Which papers is “LiCoO₂: the layered oxide cathode” based on?** Mizushima, Jones, Wiseman & Goodenough, “LixCoO2 (0<x≤1): A new cathode material for batteries of high energy density”, Mater. Res. Bull. 1980 (doi:10.1016/0025-5408(80)90012-4); Ohzuku & Ueda, “Solid-State Redox Reactions of LiCoO2 (R3m) for 4 Volt Secondary Lithium Cells”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 1994 (doi:10.1149/1.2059267); Reimers & Dahn, “Electrochemical and In Situ X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Lithium Intercalation in LixCoO2”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 1992 (doi:10.1149/1.2221184); Whittingham, “Lithium Batteries and Cathode Materials”, Chem. Rev. 2004 (doi:10.1021/cr020731c).

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