Fast Li-Ion insertion into nanosized LiMn(2)O(4) without domain boundaries.
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.
Okubo
Masashi
M
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Umezono 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8578 Japan.
Mizuno
Yoshifumi
Y
Yamada
Hirotoshi
H
Kim
Jedeok
J
Hosono
Eiji
E
Zhou
Haoshen
H
Kudo
Tetsuichi
T
Honma
Itaru
I