Fast Li-Ion insertion into nanosized LiMn(2)O(4) without domain boundaries.

Okubo, Masashi; Mizuno, Yoshifumi; Yamada, Hirotoshi; Kim, Jedeok; Hosono, Eiji; Zhou, Haoshen; Kudo, Tetsuichi; Honma, Itaru · ACS Nano · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The effect of crystallite size on Li-ion insertion in electrode materials is of great interest recently because of the need for nanoelectrodes in higher-power Li-ion rechargeable batteries. We present a systematic study of the effect of size on the electrochemical properties of LiMn(2)O(4). Accurate size control of nanocrystalline LiMn(2)O(4), which is realized by a hydrothermal method, significantly alters the phase diagram as well as Li-ion insertion voltage. Nanocrystalline LiMn(2)O(4) with extremely small crystallite size of 15 nm cannot accommodate domain boundaries between Li-rich and Li-poor phases due to interface energy, and therefore lithiation proceeds via solid solution state without domain boundaries, enabling fast Li-ion insertion during the entire discharge process.