Urea combustion synthesis of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 as a cathode material for lithium ion batteries

LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 was synthesized by combustion synthesis (UCS) using urea as fuel. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope measurements showed that the spinet structure LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 with the space group Fd (3) over barm was formed during urea combustion. Both structure and particle size could be adjusted by the amount of urea and the heat treatment temperature used in the UCS. For the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 sample prepared with a urea/Li molar ratio of 0.57 and a heat treatment temperature of 900 degrees C, the particle-size distribution fell in a narrow range of 1-2 mu m. Electrochemical tests indicated that this LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 sample delivered a discharge capacity of 133.6 mAh/g with a capacity retention rate of 99.6% after 20 cycles at 0.5 C. (c) 2012 Chinese Society of Particuology and Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.