Structural and Electrochemical Properties of Li2Mn0.5Fe0.5SiO4/C Cathode Nanocomposite

The $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$ silicate was prepared by blending of $Li_2MnSiO_4$ and $Li_2FeSiO_4$ precursors with same molar ratio. The one of the silicates of $Li_2FeSiO_4$ is known as high capacitive up to ~330 mAh/g due to 2 mole electron exchange, and the other of $Li_2FeSiO_4$ has identical structure with $Li_2MnSiO_4$ and shows stable cycle with less capacity of ~170 mAh/g. The major drawback of silicate family is low electronic conductivity (3 orders of magnitude lower than $LiFePO_4$). To overcome this disadvantage, carbon composite of the silicate compound was prepared by sucrose mixing with silicate precursors and heat-treated in reducing atmosphere. The crystal structure and physical morphology of $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$ was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$/C nanocomposite has a maximum discharge capacity of 200 mAh/g, and 63% of its discharge capacity is retained after the tenth cycles. We have realized that more than 1 mole of electrons are exchanged in $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$. We have observed that $Li_2Mn_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}SiO_4$ is unstable structure upon first delithiation with structural collapse. High temperature cell performance result shows high capacity of discharge capacity (244 mAh/g) but it had poor capacity retention (50%) due to the accelerated structural degradation and related reaction.