A 3 VOLT LITHIUM MANGANESE OXIDE CATHODE FOR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES

A new 3 volt lithium manganese oxide cathode, LiMn2O4.1, for lithium batteries has been prepared by a solution-based route that can be carried out in air unlike previous sol-gel processes. The addition of carbon to the solution during preparation yields a material with a significantly enhanced cycling performance. Cycling at discharge and charge current densities of 1 and 0.5 mA cm-2, respectively (corresponding to a discharge rate of C/2), and between 3.7 and 2.0 V yields a capacity of 90 mA hg-1 after 300 cycles for the material prepared using carbon. This represents an enhancement of the discharge capacity of 50% on the 300th cycle when compared with the same material without carbon.