Mn3O4 nano-sized crystals: Rapid synthesis and extension to preparation of nanosized LiMn2O4 materials

Abstract

With a novel gas–liquid reaction, a facile and rapid method has been successfully developed for the synthesis of nano-sized Mn3O4 crystals. Coupled with complementary experiments, preparation mechanisms of Mn(II) and Mn(III)Mn(III)Mn(II) coordination complexes as well as nano-sized Mn3O4 crystals are studied. Besides, as the extension of synthesis of nano-sized Mn3O4 crystals, the intermediate ammonia alkaline solution containing Mn(III)Mn(III)Mn(II) coordination complexes, which tend to decompose into nano-sized Mn3O4 crystals spontaneously, are used to prepare nanosized LiMn2O4 materials. Although any physical treatment has been done to disperse powders, the as-synthesized LiMn2O4 nanoparticles are still existence with homogeneous size distribution (about 24.2 nm) without any obvious agglomeration. That is to say, the novel method is constructive not only to accelerate reaction rates for the elevated oxidation state of manganese ions, but also to prepare dispersed nanosized LiMn2O4 materials with good electrochemical properties.