ZnO-coated LiMn2O4 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries synthesized by a combustion method

ZnO-coated LiMn2O4 cathode materials were prepared by a combustion method using glucose as fuel. The phase structures, size of particles, morphology, and electrochemical performance of pristine and ZnO-coated LiMn2O4 powders are studied in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic charge-discharge test, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD patterns indicated that surface-modified ZnO have no obvious effect on the bulk structure of the LiMn2O4. TEM and XPS proved ZnO formation on the surface of the LiMn2O4 particles. Galvanostatic charge/discharge test and rate performance showed that the ZnO coating could improve the capacity and cycling performance of LiMn2O4. The 2 wt% ZnO-coated LiMn2O4 sample exhibited an initial discharge capacity of 112.8 mAh g−1 with a capacity retention of 84.1 % after 500 cycles at 0.5 C. Besides, a good rate capability at different current densities from 0.5 to 5.0 C can be acquired. CV and EIS measurements showed that the ZnO coating effectively reduced the impacts of polarization and charge transfer resistance upon cycling.