Solution-combustion synthesized aluminium-doped spinel (LiAl x Mn2−x O4) as a high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode material

Abstract

High-performing LiAl x Mn2−x O4 (x = 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.5) spinel cathode materials for lithium-ion battery were developed using a solution combustion method. The as-synthesized cathode materials have spinel cubic structure of LiMn2O4 without any impurity peak and accompanied with peak shift as doping with aluminium. LiAl0.375Mn1.625O4 (first cycle capacity = 113.1 mAh g−1) retains 85 % (96.2 mAh g−1), while pristine LiMn2O4 electrode (first cycle capacity = 135.8 mAh g−1) fades quickly and retains only 54 % (73.9 mAh g−1) after 50 cycles. The electrochemical performance of all the cathode samples prepared using the SCM is comparable to those reported for Al-doped LiMn2O4 spinel cathode materials. The experimental lattice parameter of LiAl x Mn2−x O4 was validated by ab initio calculations and correlated with the first cycle capacity of materials. The variation in lattice parameter as a result of Al doping greatly enhanced the cyclability of discharge capacity of the LiMn2O4 spinel.