Silver-doped lithium manganese oxide thin films prepared by solution deposition

Ag-doped LiMn2O4 thin films were prepared by solution deposition using lithium acetate, manganese acetate and silver nitrate as starting materials. The phase identification, surface morphology and electrochemical properties were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and galvanostatic charge–discharge experiments. The results show that Ag-doped LiMn2O4 film is a composite of LiMn2O4 and Ag metal. The films with low Ag content are homogeneous and crack-free. However, some silver agglomeration on the surface of thin films appears as Ag doping content increases. The resistivity of the film decreases with the increase of Ag content, while the specific capacity increases first and then decreases. The film with a higher Ag content has a smaller capacity reduction as the discharge current density increases. The charge–discharge experiments show that the cycling behavior of the films becomes better as Ag content increases.