Fabrication and characterization of Zr and Co co-doped LiMn2O4 nanowires using sol–gel–AAO template process

Abstract

The Zr and Co co-doped LiMn2O4 nanowires are fabricated successfully by using sol–gel process with porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as the template. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization show that the synthesized LiZrxCoyMn(2-x-y)O4 nanowires are uniformly distributed, high-ordered, and parallel to each other, and few microscopic defects are found. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations jointly demonstrate that the synthesized nanowires have a similar single spinel structure of LiMn2O4 crystal though Zr and Co are doped. Since the LiZrxCoyMn(2-x-y)O4 nanowires can be mass-produced by using this method, it is expected to find promising application as a new cathode material in lithium ion battery.