Synthesis of LiMn2O4 via high-temperature ball milling process

Spinel LiMn2O4 powder was prepared by a novel process of high-temperature ball milling. For comparison, the spinel LiMn2O4 powder was also synthesized by the traditional method of solid state reaction. It was found that high-temperature ball milling significantly decreased the synthesis temperature and time. LiMn2O4 with pure spinel phase could be successfully synthesized only by 2 h high-temperature ball milling at 500°C and 600°C. However, pure spinel LiMn2O4 could not be completely synthesized by 2 h solid state reaction at 800°C. The LiMn2O4 particles prepared by high-temperature ball milling are nano-sized (<100 nm) and much smaller than that prepared using solid state reaction. The electrochemical tests results indicated that the as-synthesized LiMn2O4 by 2 h high-temperature ball milling at 600°C showed a favorable initial discharge capacity of 124.2 mAh g−1 at current rate of 0.1 C and still retained a capacity of 119.8 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C after 80 continuous cycles from 0.1 to 2.0 C.