Electrochemical performance of nanostructured spinel LiMn2O4 in different aqueous electrolytes

A nanostructured spinel LiMn2O4 electrode material was prepared via a room-temperature solid-state grinding reaction route starting with hydrated lithium acetate (LiAc·2H2O), manganese acetate (MnAc2·4H2O) and citric acid (C6H8O7·H2O) raw materials, followed by calcination of the precursor at 500 °C. The material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope techniques. The electrochemical performance of the LiMn2O4 electrodes in 2 M Li2SO4, 1 M LiNO3, 5 M LiNO3 and 9 M LiNO3 aqueous electrolytes was studied using cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance and galvanostatic charge/discharge methods. The LiMn2O4 electrode in 5 M LiNO3 electrolyte exhibited good electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacity, rate dischargeability and charge/discharge cyclability, as evidenced by the charge/discharge results.