Li2MTiO4 (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni): New cation-disordered rocksalt oxides exhibiting oxidative deintercalation of lithium. Synthesis of an ordered Li2NiTiO4

We describe the synthesis and characterization of a new series of oxides, Li₂MTiO₄ (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) that crystallize in the rocksalt structure. For M=Ni, we have also obtained a low-temperature modification that adopts a Li₂SnO₃-type structure. All the phases, excepting M=Ni, undergo oxidative deinsertion of lithium in air/O₂ at elevated temperatures (>150°C), yielding LiMTiO₄ (M=Mn, Fe) spinels and a spinel-like Li_1+xCoTiO₄ as final products.