Variations of the Electrochemical Properties of LiMn2O4 with the Calcining Temperature

LiMn$_2$O$_4$ compounds were synthesized by calcining a mixture of LiOH and MnO$_2$(CMD) at 47$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 h and then calcining again at $650^{\circ}C$ to 90$0^{\circ}C$ fur 48 h in air with intermediate grinding. All the synthesized samples exhibited XRD patterns for the cubic spinel phase with a space group Fd3m. The lattice parameter increased gradually as the sintering temperature rose. The electrochemical cells were charged and discharged fur 20 cycles at a current density 300$\mu$A/$\textrm{cm}^2$ between 3.5 V and 4.3 V. The voltage vs. discharge capacity curves for all the samples showed two plateaus. The LiMn$_2$O$_4$ sample calcined at 90$0^{\circ}C$ had the largest first discharge capacity. This sample exhibited the best crystallinity, had relatively large lattice parameter and had relatively large particles with rectatively homogeneous size. All the samples showed good cycling performances. Among all the samples, the LiMn$_2$O$_4$ calcined at 85$0^{\circ}C$ had relatively large first discharge capacity and very good cycling performance. The addition of excess LiOH and the mixing in ethanol considered to help the formation of the more LiMn$_2$O$_4$ phase per unit weight sample and the more stable LiMn$_2$O$_4$phase. These led to the larger discharge capacities and the better cycling performances. The cyclic voltammograms fur the second cycle of the LiMn$_2$O$_4$ samples showed the oxidation and reduction peaks around 4.05 V and 4.18 V and around 4.08 V and 3.94 V, respectively. The larger first discharge capacity of the sample calcined at the higher temperature is related to the larger lattice parameter.