title: Eco-friendly nitrogen-containing carbon encapsulated LiMn2O4 cathodes to enhance the electrochemical properties in rechargeable Li-ion batteries.
abstract: This study describes the synthesis of nitrogen-containing carbon (N-C) and an approach to apply the N-C material as a surface encapsulant of LiMn2O4 (LMO) cathode material. The N heteroatoms in the N-C material improve the electrochemical performance of LMO. A low-cost wet coating method was used to prepare N-C@LMO particles. The N-C@LMO was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), high-resolution Raman spectroscopy (HR-Raman), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and field emission scanning transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM) with elemental mapping. Furthermore, the prepared samples were electrochemically studied using the AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the electrochemical cycler. XPS suggested that the N-C coating greatly reduced the dissolution of Mn and EIS showed that the coating greatly suppressed the charge transfer resistance, even after long-term cycling. The control of Mn dissolution and inner resistance allowed faster Li-ion transport between the two electrodes resulting in improved discharge capacity and cycling stability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Gihung, Yongin, Gyeonggi 17104, South Korea.
authors.forename: P Robert
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ilango
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Gihung, Yongin, Gyeonggi 17104, South Korea.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prasanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Gihung, Yongin, Gyeonggi 17104, South Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Do
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Gihung, Yongin, Gyeonggi 17104, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Nam
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Gihung, Yongin, Gyeonggi 17104, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee