RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERY WITH SPINEL-RELATED MNO2 .2. OPTIMIZATION OF THE LIMN2O4 SYNTHESIS CONDITIONS

The effect of the starting products and the synthesis temperature on electrochemical parameters of Li1-xMn2O4 (O<x<1) are studied. Synthesis of LiMn2O4 spinel for lithium cells operating at low and medium discharge rates is not essentially affected by the nature of the starting products. Use of chemically-obtained manganese dioxide, instead of electrochemically obtained one, or LiNO3 and LiOH, instead of Li2CO3, displays significant advantages at high discharge rates. Thermal pretreatment of the reaction mixture in the temperature range of 350 to 550-degrees-C improves the electrochemical behavior of the samples. Optimum results were obtained by a following reaction time of the main synthesis from 75 to 200 h at temperatures in the 650-750-degrees-C range.