Atomic Insights into Ti Doping on the Stability Enhancement of Truncated Octahedron LiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Nanoparticles

oleh: Wangqiong Xu, Hongkai Li, Yonghui Zheng, Weibin Lei, Zhenguo Wang, Yan Cheng, Ruijuan Qi, Hui Peng, Hechun Lin, Fangyu Yue, Rong Huang

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-02-01

Deskripsi

Ti-doped truncated octahedron LiTi<i><sub>x</sub></i>Mn<sub>2-<i>x</i></sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanocomposites were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal treatment and calcination process. By using spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (Cs-STEM), the effects of Ti-doping on the structure evolution and stability enhancement of LiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> are revealed. It is found that truncated octahedrons are easily formed in Ti doping LiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> material. Structural characterizations reveal that most of the Ti<sup>4+</sup> ions are composed into the spinel to form a more stable spinel LiTi<i><sub>x</sub></i>Mn<sub>2−<i>x</i></sub>O<sub>4</sub> phase framework in bulk. However, a portion of Ti<sup>4+</sup> ions occupy 8a sites around the {001} plane surface to form a new TiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-like structure. The combination of LiTi<i><sub>x</sub></i>Mn<sub>2−<i>x</i></sub>O<sub>4</sub> frameworks in bulk and the TiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-like structure at the surface may enhance the stability of the spinel LiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>. Our findings demonstrate the critical role of Ti doping in the surface chemical and structural evolution of LiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> and may guide the design principle for viable electrode materials.