Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of 4 V LiRXMn2−XO4 spinels for rechargeable lithium batteries

Lithium ion cells have attracted the researchers ever since the first commercialization of Li//LiCoO2 cells in Japan. However, the high cost and relatively low availability of cobalt has promoted the search for inexpensive and widely available manganate materials. LiMn2O4 is one of these materials which is being investigated extensively. However, LiMn2O4 shows fading of capacity during cycling involving mainly the Jahn–Teller Mn3+ ion. In the present work, LiRXMn2−XO4 (R=Co, Ni, Fe, Ti) spinel compounds have been synthesized using low and high temperature methods. These materials were structurally evaluated using XRD. The prepared materials were electrochemically investigated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling techniques. The best performing material was assembled in a coin cell of type 2032 and charged at 500 μA up to 4.4 V. The cells were cycled at 1 mA current drain using 1 M LiClO4/PC as an electrolyte. The results indicate that Ti doped spinel shows promising results. Electrical characteristics of these cells are presented in this paper.