title: Fast Li-Ion insertion into nanosized LiMn(2)O(4) without domain boundaries.
abstract: The effect of crystallite size on Li-ion insertion in electrode materials is of great interest recently because of the need for nanoelectrodes in higher-power Li-ion rechargeable batteries. We present a systematic study of the effect of size on the electrochemical properties of LiMn(2)O(4). Accurate size control of nanocrystalline LiMn(2)O(4), which is realized by a hydrothermal method, significantly alters the phase diagram as well as Li-ion insertion voltage. Nanocrystalline LiMn(2)O(4) with extremely small crystallite size of 15 nm cannot accommodate domain boundaries between Li-rich and Li-poor phases due to interface energy, and therefore lithiation proceeds via solid solution state without domain boundaries, enabling fast Li-ion insertion during the entire discharge process.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Umezono 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8578 Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Jedeok
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hosono
authors.forename: Haoshen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Tetsuichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Honma