• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2022

Electrochemical properties of LiMn₂O₄ cathode were investigated in three types of Zn-containing electrolytes: lithium-zinc sulfate electrolyte (1M ZnSO₄ / 2M Li₂SO₄), zinc sulfate electrolyte (2MZnSO₄) and lithium-zinc-manganese sulfate electrolyte (1MZnSO₄ / 2MLi₂SO₄ / 0.1MMnSO₄). Cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrated that LiMn₂O₄ is electrochemically inactive in pure ZnSO₄ electrolyte after initial oxidation. The effect of manganese (II) additive in the zinc-manganese sulfate electrolyte on the electrochemical performance was analyzed. The initial capacity of LiMn₂O₄ is higher in presence of MnSO₄ (140 mAh g^-1 in 1 M ZnSO₄ / 2 M Li₂SO₄ / 0.1 M MnSO₄ and 120 mAh g^-1 in 1 M ZnSO₄ / 2MLi₂SO₄). The capacity increase can be explained by the electrodeposition of MnO_x layer on the electrode surface. Structural characterization of postmortem electrodes with use of XRD and EDX analysis confirmed that partially formed in pure ZnSO₄ electrolyte Zn-containing phase leads to fast capacity fading which is probably related to blocked electroactive sites.