DIRECT CONTACT SHIELD OF LiMn2O4 ACTIVE MATERIAL FROM ELECTROLYTE

Abstract

The spinel LiMn2O4 powders were prepared by sol–gel technique using lithium acetate (Li(CH3COO) · 2H2O) and manganese acetate (Mn(CH3COO)2 · 4H2O) as starting materials, citric acid as a chelating agent, and acrylamide as a gel formatting agent. In order to improve the electrochemical performance of lithium ion batteries and prevent structural disintegration from Mn dissolution generated by undesirable acid production, conductive agents were additionally coated on the surface of active material coated on pure aluminum foil as a current collector. Also, it was comparatively investigated using different conductive agents with different particle sizes as well as adopting the cells into the different thermal environments. The electrochemical performance of the Li/LiMn2O4 cells demonstrated that the spinel LiMn2O4 might be effectively shielded from acid, resulting in improved electrochemical capacity characteristics at room temperature as well as elevated temperature of 55°C.Lithium ion battery, cathode, LiMn2O4, Mn dissolution