Synthesis and Characterization of Silica-LiMn 2 O 4 Core-Shell Nanosphere Cathodes

In order to improve the charge/discharge cycling performance of the LiMn 2 O 4 cathode, the spinel LiMn 2 O 4 is coated on the structurally stable SiO 2 nanosphere cores, LiMn 2 O 4 @SiO 2 . The core-shell LiMn 2 O 4 @SiO 2 nanosphere cathodes are prepared by the MnCO 3 precipitation on the silica surface and the following solid state reaction of MnCO 3 @SiO 2 with a lithium salt. The charge/discharge cycle stability has improved by the nanostructural characteristics of the LiMn 2 O 4 @ shell on the SiO 2 core. The cathode composed of LiMn 2 O 4 @SiO 2 nanospheres exhibits higher capacity retention of 97% than that of LiMn 2 O 4 nanoparticles of 89%, after 100 battery cycles at a 10C rate.