Influence of Sc3+ on LiMn2O4 cathode materials at elevated temperature

Sc3+ -doped lithium manganese oxides were synthesized by solid-state reaction. The influences of doping element on structure, mean valence of manganese, and electrochemical performances were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), galvanostatic charge-discharge and cyclic voltammetric tests, and also electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). XRD tests showed that doped lithium manganese oxides were pure spinel structure without other phases. Redox titration and visible spectrophotometry tests indicated that the mean valence of manganese in doped lithium manganese oxides was higher than that of pure one. LiSc0.02Mn1.98O4 remained 92.9% of the initial specific discharge capacity after 50th cycle at a constant current of 50 m/g, and the reversibility of LiSc0.02Mn1.98O4 was improved in comparison with pure LiMn2O4 at 50 °C. EIS indicated that film deposition on spinel particles was suppressed because of Sc3+ doping, and the charge transfer between the surface film and spinel particles with increasing temperature for Sc3+ -doped materials became easier as compared with undoped one.