Characteristics of spinel LiMgxMn2-xO4 cathode materials prepared by a sol-gel method

LiMn2O4 powders were synthesized at 250 similar to 800 degrees for 10 hours in air by the sol-gel method using poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) as a chelatin g agent. The dependence of the physicochemical properties of the LiMn2O4 po wders such as crystallinity, lattice constant, and specific surface area on the calcination temperature and the PVB quantity was investigated. Polycry stalline LiMn2O4 powders were found to be composed of very uniformly sized particulates. LiMg0.05Mn1.95O4 powders were also synthesized at 800 degrees C for comparison. Electrochemical studies on the charge/discharge characte ristics and the cycling behavior of the Li/LiMn2O4 and Li/LiMg0.05Mn(1.95)O (4) cells revealed that the LiMn2O4 electrode showed a high initial perform ance, while the LiMg0.05Mn1.95O4 one exhibited a good cycling performance.