Improvement of electrochemical and structural properties of LiMn2O4 spinel based electrode materials for Li-ion batteries

Spinel LiMn2O4 and LiM0.02Mn1.98O4 (where M is Zn, Co, Ni and In) were produced via facile sol–gel method and Cu/LiMn2O4, Cu/LiM0.02Mn1.98O4, Ag/LiMn2O4 and Ag/LiM0.02Mn1.98O4 binary composite electrode materials were produced via electroless coating techniques as a positive electrode material for Li-ion batteries. The phase composition, morphology and electrochemical properties of the synthesized materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), cyclic voltammometry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The synthesized cathode active materials are characterized as single phase spinel LiMn2O4 with degree of crystallization and uniform particle size distribution. Best results were obtained with electrodes substituted with In and an initial discharge capacity of 134 mAhg−1 after 50 cycles. The improvement in the cycling performance may be attributed to stabilization of spinel structure by smaller lattice constant when manganese ion was partially substituted with In3+ ions. EIS analysis also confirms that the obvious improvement in Ag coating is mainly attributed to the accelerated phase transformation from layered phase to spinel phase and highly stable electrolyte/electrode interface due to the suppression of electrolyte decomposition.