Effect of temperature on lithium-ion intercalation kinetics of LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4-positive-electrode material

LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄ is synthesized by a sol–gel method and the intercalation kinetics as positive electrode for lithium-ion batteries is investigated by EIS. LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄ particles prepared via sol–gel process possess spinel phase with Fd-3m space group. The charge-transfer resistance, the exchange-current density and the solid-phase diffusion are found as a function of temperature. The apparent activation energy of the exchange current, the charge transfer, and the lithium diffusion in solid phase are also determined, respectively. This result indicates that the effect of the temperature on the cell capacity and the current dependence of the capacity results mainly from the enhancement of the lithium diffusion at elevated temperatures. It can be concluded that LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄ cell has a bad rate cycling performance at elevated temperatures before any modification due to the high diffusion apparent activation energy. The relevant theoretical elucidations thus provide us some useful insights into the design of novel LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄-based positive-electrode materials.