Synthesis of spinel LiMn2O4 with manganese carbonate prepared by micro-emulsion method

Micro-spherical particle of MnCO3 has been successfully synthesized in CTAB–C8H18–C4H9OH–H2O micro-emulsion system. Mn2O3 decomposed from the MnCO3 is mixed with Li2CO3 and sintered at 800 °C for 12 h, and the pure spinel LiMn2O4 in sub-micrometer size is obtained. The LiMn2O4 has initial discharge specific capacity of 124 mAh g−1 at discharge current of 120 mA g−1 between 3 and 4.2 V, and retains 118 mAh g−1 after 110 cycles. High-rate capability test shows that even at a current density of 16 C, capacity about 103 mAh g−1 is delivered, whose power is 57 times of that at 0.2 C. The capacity loss rate at 55 °C is 0.27% per cycle.