Comparison of microwave-induced combustion and solid-state reaction for synthesis of LiMn2−xCrxO4 powders and their electrochemical properties

Spinel LiMn2−xCrxO4 (0≦x≦0.20) powders with small and uniformly sized particles were successfully synthesized by microwave-induced combustion, using lithium nitrate, manganese nitrate, chromium nitrate and urea as the starting materials. The LiMn2−xCrxO4 powders synthesized by microwave-induced combustion and solid-state reaction were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimeter analyzer (TGA) and a surface area measurement. The LiMn2−xCrxO4 samples were used as cathode materials for lithium-ion battery, whose discharge capacity and electrochemical characteristic properties in terms of cycle performance were also investigated. The results revealed that the Li/LiMn2−xCrxO4 cell synthesized by microwave-induced combustion had a high initial capacity and much better reversibility than one formed in a solid-state reaction.