Electrochemical performance of nanostructured spinel LiMn2O4 in different aqueous electrolytes

A nanostructured spinel LiMn2O4 electrode material was prepared via a room-temperature solid-state grinding reaction route starting with hydrated lithium acetate (LiAc center dot 2H(2)O), manganese acetate (MnAC(2)center dot 4H(2)O) and citric acid (C6H8O7 center dot H2O) raw materials, followed by calcination of the precursor at 500 degrees C. The material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope techniques. The electrochemical performance of the LiMn2O4 electrodes in 2 M Li2SO4, 1 M LiNO3, 5 M LiNO3 and 9 M LiNO3 aqueous electrolytes was Studied using cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance and galvanostatic charge/discharge methods. The LiMn2O4 electrode in 5 M LiNO3 electrolyte exhibited good electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacity, rate dischargeability and charge/discharge cyclability, as evidenced by the charge/discharge results. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.