Solid-state combustion synthesis of spinel LiMn2O4 using glucose as a fuel

Spinel LiMn2O4 cathode material was rapidly synthesized in 1 h by solid-state combustion synthesis using metal carbonates as metal ion sources and glucose as a fuel. The effect of different amounts of glucose on the structure and electrochemical performance of as-prepared LiMn2O4 was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micrographs (SEM), galvanostatic charge–discharge test, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). LiMn2O4 spinel was identified as the main crystalline phase with the presence of minor Mn3O4. The amount of glucose greatly affected the formation of Mn3O4. The optimal content of glucose was found to be 10 wt%. Under this condition, the Mn3O4 peaks almost disappeared, and high-purity spinel LiMn2O4 was obtained. Its initial discharge specific capacity of was 125.9 mAh/g, and discharge specific capacity retained at 105.2 mAh/g after 40 cycles. The detail influence of glucose on the electrochemical activity, reversibility and cycling performance of LiMn2O4 was discussed.