Hydrothermal Synthesis and Characteristics of LiMn2O4 as Cathode Materials

Spinel LiMn2O4 cathode materials were grown using a two-step hydrothermal method. First, we synthesized caddice-clew-like MnO2, and spinel LiMn2O4 was grown on the caddice-clew-like MnO2 via the hydrothermal method. The structure, optical properties, chemical bonding states and electrochemical performance of the as-prepared MnO2, as-prepared LiMn2O4 and annealed LiMn2O4 were characterized via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical properties. The spinel LiMn2O4 produced on the caddice-clew-likeMnO(2) micro-particles exhibited mixed cubic spinel LiMn2O3 and a tetragonal-MnO2 structure without any residual impurities. The as-prepared LiMn2O4 and annealed LiMn2O4 cathode electrode exhibited specific discharge capacities 66.4 and 101.5 mAhg(-1) at a current density of 0.1 Ag-1, respectively. After 100 cycles at 0.1 Ag-1, the annealed LiMn2O4 cathode electrode retained 87% of the first discharge capacity.