Lithium manganese oxide (LMO), CAS number 12057-17-9, has a chemical formula of LiMn2O4. It is a promising candidate to replace layered Ni or Co oxide materials as the cathode in lithium-ion batteries for its intrinsic low-cost, environmental friendliness, high abundance, and better safety. Lithium manganese oxide can improve ion transport and power capability especially at high rates with higher nominal voltage (4.0 V) than the benchmark cathode material LiCoO2.

Lithium manganese oxide has a spinel crystal structure with space group of Fd3m. Closely packed oxygen array allocates cations in octahedral and tetrahedral sites. The same amount of Mn3+ and Mn4+ occupies the octahedral sites while lithium occupies the tetrahedral sites.

Like LiCoO2, LiMn2O4 also suffers from capacity fading caused by a combination of structural transformation and transition metal cation dissolution. The so called Jahn–Teller distortion, occurred at the discharge state of Mn3+, causes a symmetry distortion of the octahedra complex and transforms the spinel into a tetragonal with large anisotropic volume change. The structure distortion is peaked at high current rate when Li+ diffusion rate into the electrolyte is greater than inside the domain of the crystal structure.

Technical Data

Lithium Manganese Oxide Powder