X-ray diffraction study on phase transition of orthorhombic LiMnO2 in electrochemical conversions

Orthorhombic LiMnO₂ was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction. Phase transition during electrochemical process has been investigated using the high-resolution X-ray diffraction. Contrary to numerous earlier reports, phase analysis of the orthorhombic LiMnO₂ electrode cycled for three times evidences the irreversible structure transition from orthorhombic LiMnO₂ (Pmnm) to spinel LiMn₂O₄ (Fd3m) and rock salt Li_0.5Mn_0.5O (Fm \( \overline{3} \) m). Here, the spinel structure with a cell parameter a?=?8.241 (1) Å has a large cationic disorder on lithium and manganese sites, i.e., about 9% of the Li positions are occupied by Mn and vice versa. For Li_0.5Mn_0.5O, the cell parameter is a?=?4.121 (3) Å, and both Li⁺ and Mn³⁺ cations occupy the octahedral 4a sites with mole ratio 1:1. The quantity of Li_0.5Mn_0.5O phase is greatly dependent on cycling rate, namely, the higher the current density is, the larger the quantity of formed-rock salt structure is.