Cyclic performance of Li-rich layered material Li1.1Ni0.35Mn0.65O2 synthesized through a two-step calcination method

•Li1.1Ni0.35Mn0.65O2 was obtained by a two-step calcination method.•The influences of second calcination conditions on cyclic performance were studied.•The relationship of structure and the electrochemical performance were studied.•The differences of structure result in the different impedance, kinetic and cycle ability of materials. Li-rich layered material Li1.1Ni0.35Mn0.65O2 was synthesized by a two-step calcination method, the relationship between the calcination conditions and the cyclic performance was studied. The results show the calcination conditions of the second step exhibiting great influences on the cyclic performance of the material. As the calcination temperature increases from 970°C to 1030°C, the discharge capacity of the prepared material increases firstly and then decreases, so does the discharge voltage fading. The material obtained at the temperature (The second step calcination) of 990°C exhibits the highest discharge capacity and the highest discharge voltage fading. The material with longer second calcination time shows lower stable discharge capacity but smaller discharge voltage fading. The variation of the cyclic performance with the calcination conditions should be ascribed to the structural change, the electrochemical active area change and the electrochemical impedance.