Electrochemical properties of Li ₂O-2B ₂O ₃ glass-modified LiMn ₂O ₄ powders prepared by spray pyrolysis process

Li ₂O-2B ₂O ₃ glass-modified LiMn ₂O ₄ cathode powders are prepared using spray pyrolysis. The powders with 1 and 5 wt% glass material have a spherical shape, dense structure, and large grain size. The BET surface areas of LiMn ₂O ₄ powders with 0 and 1 wt% glass material are 15.0 and 5.9 m ² g ^-1, and their mean crystallite sizes are 29 and 49 nm. The lithium boron oxide (LBO) glass material improves the cycle properties as well as the initial discharge capacities of the LiMn ₂O ₄ powders at a constant current density of 1 C. The discharge capacity of LiMn ₂O ₄ powders without any glass material decreases from 116.3 to 92.6 mAh g ^-1 after 100 cycles, the reduced capacity being 80% of the initial capacity. However, the discharge capacity of the LiMn ₂O ₄ powders with 1 wt% glass material decreases from 131.0 to 113.2 mAh g ^-1 after 100 cycles; thus, the capacity retention is 86% of the initial capacity.