Nano-LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 spinel: a high power electrode for Li-ion batteries

Disordered and ordered forms of nano-Li[Ni(0.5)Mn(1.5)]O(4) spinel, have been prepared by a one-pot resorcinol-formaldehyde synthesis. Lithium intercalation into disordered nano-Li[Ni(0.5)Mn(1.5)]O(4-delta) reveals good rate capability and cycling stability. It delivers 95.5% of the capacity at a rate of 10C (1500 mA g(-1)) and 88% at 20C (3000 mA g(-1)) compared with the capacity at low rate (0.2C). A capacity retention on cycling of 99.97% per cycle at 1C rate has also been observed. The superior electrochemical behaviour of disordered nano-Li[Ni(0.5)Mn(1.5)]O(4-delta) has been correlated with AC impedance data, which suggests a modified surface for the nanomaterial prepared using the resorcinol-formaldehyde route compared with micron sized materials prepared by conventional solid state synthesis.