Effect of solid-state reaction temperature on electrochemical performance of LiMn2O4 submicro-rods as cathode material for Li-ion battery by using γ-MnOOH submicro-rods as self-template

•Single crystal LiMn2O4 rods are prepared by using γ-MnOOH rods as self-template.•LiMn2O4 rods obtained at 600 °C (LMO-600) exhibit the best performance.•LMO-600 has an initial capacity (125.6 mAh g−1) and high rate capacity.•Rod-like structure and 95.6% capacity are preserved after 100 cycles at 3 C.

LiMn2O4 submicro-rods are synthesized via solid-state reaction by using γ-MnOOH submicro-rods as self-template, which is prepared via a solvothermal process in the presence of ethanol/water solvent by using KMnO4 and MnCl2 as raw materials. It is found that the ethanol content in a certain ethanol/water volume ratio range has no obvious influence on the crystal phase and morphology of γ-MnOOH submicro-rods derived from the solvothermal process, and a proper solid-state reaction temperature range for the preparation of spinel LiMn2O4 submicro-rods by using γ-MnOOH submicro-rods as self-template is 500∼700 °C. Moreover, the effects of reaction temperature on structure, crystal phase and electrochemical performance of the obtained LiMn2O4 submicro-rods as cathode material of Li-ion battery are studied in detail, and the LiMn2O4 submicro-rods obtained at 600 °C exhibit the best electrochemical performance with an initial capacity of 125.6 mAh g−1 and 95.6% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 3 C. Importantly, the rod-like nanostructure and crystal phase can be well preserved after prolonged the charge/discharge cycling time at a relatively high current rate, indicating its good structural stability as cathode material. Further development of this γ-MnOOH submicro-rod self-templating method may be interesting for the commercial production of LiMn2O4 for Li-ion batteries with superior high-rate capability and good cycling stability.