Synthesis and phase transition of Li-Mn-O spinels with high Li/Mn ratio by thermo-decomposition of LiMnC2O4(Ac)

LiMnC₂O₄(Ac) precursor in which Li⁺ and Mn²⁺ were amalgamated in one molecule was prepared by solid-state reaction at room-temperature using manganese acetate, lithium hydroxide and oxalic acid as raw materials. By thermo-decomposition of LiMnC₂O₄(Ac) at various temperatures, a series of Li_1+y[Mn_2−xLi_x]_16dO₄ spinels were prepared with Li₂MnO₃ as impurities. The structure and phase transition of these spinels were investigated by XRD, TG/DTA, average oxidation state of Mn and cyclic voltammeric techniques. Results revealed that the Li-Mn-O spinels with high Li/Mn ratio were unstable at high temperature, and the phase transition was associated with the transfer of Li⁺ from octahedral 16c sites to 16d sites. With the sintering temperature increasing from 450 to 850 °C, the phase structure varied from lithiated-spinel Li₂Mn₂O₄ to Li₄Mn₅O₁₂-like to LiMn₂O₄-like and finally to rock-salt LiMnO₂-like. A way of determining x with average oxidation state of Mn and the content of Li₂MnO₃ was also demonstrated.