A new active Li–Mn–O compound for high energy density Li-ion batteries

The search for new materials that can improve the energy density of Li-ion batteries is technologically important. An electrochemically active compound with the composition Li4Mn2O5 exhibits an unprecedented discharge capacity of 355 mAh g−1. The search for new materials that could improve the energy density of Li-ion batteries is one of today’s most challenging issues. Many families of transition metal oxides as well as transition metal polyanionic frameworks have been proposed during the past twenty years1,2. Among them, manganese oxides, such as the LiMn2O4 spinel or the overlithiated oxide Li[Li1/3Mn2/3]O2, have been intensively studied owing to the low toxicity of manganese-based materials and the high redox potential of the Mn3+/Mn4+ couple. In this work, we report on a new electrochemically active compound with the ‘Li4Mn2O5’ composition, prepared by direct mechanochemical synthesis at room temperature. This rock-salt-type nanostructured material shows a discharge capacity of 355 mAh g−1, which is the highest yet reported among the known lithium manganese oxide electrode materials. According to the magnetic measurements, this exceptional capacity results from the electrochemical activity of the Mn3+/Mn4+ and O2−/O− redox couples, and, importantly, of the Mn4+/Mn5+ couple also.