New solid state routes to lithium transition metal oxides via reactions with lithium oxide

Abstract

Thermolysis of a mixture of lithium oxide and transition metal halides MX n (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Fe, Mn) at 800°C for 2–12 h produces crystalline lithium transition metal oxides Li 2MO 3 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, Mn), Li 3MO 4 (M = V, Nb, Ta), Li 2MnO 3 Li 2Fe 3O 4 and Li 2MO 4 (M = Mo, W). For M = Cr, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn the reaction produces the metal oxides Cr 2O 3, NiO, CuO, ZnO and Co 3O 4. The metal oxides and lithium metal oxides were characterised by X-ray power diffraction. SEM/EDAX, FT-IR and magnetic moment measurements.