Li+ extraction/adsorption properties of Li-Sb-Mn composite oxides in aqueous medium

Series Li-Sb-Mn composite oxides with different Sb/Mn molar ratios were obtained by solid state reaction. Their structure, morphology and Li+ extraction/adsorption properties were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), respectively. XRD and SEM analyses reveal that the crystal of the products transfers from spinel to orthorhombic phase with the increase of molar ratio of Sb to Mn from 0.05 to 1.00. The Li+ extraction and adsorption experiments for these Li-Sb-Mn composite oxides demonstrate that the composite oxides can all be used as lithium inorganic adsorbents. The acid treated spinel Li-Sb-Mn composite oxide with Sb/Mn molar ratio of 0.05 has a high Li+ adsorption capacity of 33.23 mg/g in lithium solution. The Sb/Mn molar ratio of these Li-Sb-Mn composite oxides should be a crucial factor in determining their structure and Li+ extraction and adsorption properties.