LiMn 2O 4 cathode materials synthesized by the cellulose–citric acid method for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

A new technique was employed to synthesize spinel LiMn 2O 4 cathode materials by adding cellulose and citric acid to an aqueous solution of lithium and manganese salts. Various synthesis conditions such as the calcination temperature and the citric acid-to-metal ion molar ratio ( R) were investigated to determine the ideal conditions for preparing LiMn 2O 4 with the best electrochemical characteristics. The optimal synthesis conditions were found to be R = 1/3 and a calcination temperature of 800 °C. The initial discharge capacity of the material synthesized using the optimal conditions was 134 mAh g −1, and the discharge capacity after 40 cycles was 125 mAh g −1, at a current density of 0.15 mA cm −2 between 3.0 and 4.35 V. Details of how the initial synthesis conditions affected the capacity and cycling performance of LiMn 2O 4 are discussed.