Facile synthesis and electrochemical properties of hierarchical MnO2 submicrospheres and LiMn2O4 microspheres

Hierarchical MnO2 submicrospheres have been successfully synthesized by a wet chemical method. The as-prepared products were characterized by means of XRD, SEM, FTIR, TG, and TEM. With the as-prepared MnO2 submicrospheres as precursors, LiMn2O4 microspheres were conveniently prepared by a simple solid-state reaction between MnO2 and LiOH at a temperature as low as 600 °C. Electrochemical properties of the as-prepared MnO2 submicrospheres and LiMn2O4 microspheres as cathode materials in lithium ion cells were investigated by galvanostatic charge/discharge tests.