Electrochemical properties of LiMn2O4 prepared with tartaric acid chelating agent

Abstract

Lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4) has been prepared using sol-gel technique under acidic (pH = 5.8) and alkaline (pH = 9) conditions with tartaric acid as chelating agent. X-ray studies show that under acidic condition, an Mn2O3 peak was observed indicating the presence of impurities. No impurity was observed for LiMn2O4 under alkaline conditions. The particle size is mostly in the range of 124 to 185 nm from HR-TEM. The lithium diffusion coefficient, D Li+ in LiMn2O4 is of the order 10−9 cm2 s−1. By using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, structural properties have been obtained. The specific discharge capacity of the cells with LiMn2O4 prepared under alkaline condition and with LiMn2O4 prepared under acidic condition discharged at 0.5 C is in the ranges of 132 to 142 and 128 to 139 mAh g−1, respectively.