Electrochemical evaluation of LiZn_xMn_2-xO₄ (x≤0.10) cathode material synthesized by solution combustion method

The spinel LiZn_xMn_2-xO₄ (x≤0.10) cathode materials have been synthesized by solution combustion method at 600 °C for 3 h. The structure and the morphology of LiZn_xMn_2-xO₄ were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. All the obtained samples were identified as the spinel structure of LiMn₂O₄, the lattice parameters of samples decreased and the particle size increased as the Zn content increased. The effects of Zn-doping on the electrochemical characteristics of LiMn₂O₄ were investigated by galvanostatic charge-discharge experiments, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Among them, LiZn_0.05Mn_1.95O₄ particles presented outstanding cycling stability with a capacity retention of 82.9% at a discharge rate of 1 C (1 C=148 mA h g^-1) after 500 cycles. Spinel LiZn_0.05Mn_1.95O₄ had reversible cycling performance, revealing that doping LiMn₂O₄ with Zn improves its electrochemical performance.