Effect of Temperature on Spinel LiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> by Molten-Salt Flameless Combustion Synthesis

Abstract

Effect of calcination temperature on spinel LiMn2O4 by molten-salt flameless combustion synthesis using the lithium acetate (lithium nitrate), manganese acetate (manganese nitrate) as raw materials was studied. The structural characterization and morphology of the powder were measured by X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the main phase was LiMn2O4, which could be obtained at 400-700 °C. The product crystallinity and particle size increased with increasing calcination temperature, but the capacity and cyclic stability decreased. When LiMn2O4 was calcinated at 400 °C and 500°C, the initial specific capacity at 0.1C rate was 104.2 and 101.5 mAh·g-1, respectively. After 30 cycles, the discharge capacity retention rate was 80.4 % and 83.5 %, respectively. The performance was the worst when LiMn2O4 was calcinated at 700°C, when the initial specific capacity was only 81.9 mAh·g-1.