Electrochemical performance of spinel LiAlxMn2−xO4 prepared rapidly by glucose-assisted solid-state combustion synthesis

• Spinel LiAlxMn2−xO4 was rapidly prepared by the solid-state combustion synthesis.
• The Al-doping samples with better electrochemical reversibility were obtained by a low-temperature method.
• Improved cycling performance is attributed to the enhanced crystal stability after doping Al.

Cathode materials of LiAlxMn2−xO4 (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08) with Fd3m space group were synthesized using glucose as the fuel by solid-state combustion synthesis at 500 °C in one hour. The effects of Al-doping on the crystal structures are systematically evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical performance of the cathode material LiAlxMn2−xO4 was investigated by galvanostatic charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). Results show that doping Al significantly decreases the lattice parameter, changes the micromorphology and improves the electrochemical performance of LiMn2O4. This novel synthesis method will be benefit for the further improvement of the electrochemical performance of cathode materials in lithium cell.