Atomic force microscopy study of surface morphology change in spinel LiMn2O4: Possibility of direct observation of Jahn–Teller instability

Surface morphology in 3.5 × 3.5 μm2 area of spinel LiMn2O4, which is a typical cathode material for Li ion secondary batteries, is studied using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a conductive probe. Negative bias voltage is applied to the probe to attract Li+ ions toward LiMn2O4 surface during the AFM observation. Before applying the voltage (0 V), the whole LiMn2O4 surface is covered with scale-shaped grains. Under the negative voltage of 5.5 V, electric current abruptly increases, indicating Li+ ionic conduction. Simultaneously, part of the scale-shaped grains expand and flatten. Jahn–Teller phase transition, which is induced by the repulsive interaction between the Mn-eg and O-2p electrons in Li accumulated layer, is proposed as a possible origin of these results.