Enhancing the elevated temperature performance of Li/LiMn2O4 cells by reducing LiMn2O4 surface area

Lithium-rich spinels were obtained with the same structure but different surface area by two different synthesis routes, namely the "once-annealed" and the "twice-annealed" methods. The elevated temperature performance of Li/Li1+xMn2O4 cell is significantly improved using a spinel cathode with a small surface area: the cell at 50 degrees C lost 5% of the initial capacity over the first 100 cycles based on a spinel cathode with the small surface area of 1.2 m(2)/g compared to 8% based on a large one of 6.2 m(2)/g. Also the mechanism responsible for the reaction of LiMn2O4 with LiOH to form lithium-rich spinel has been investigated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.