An Investigation of Spinel‐Related and Orthorhombic LiMnO2 Cathodes for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

Cathode materials that have been synthesized by reduction of lithium‐manganese‐oxide and manganese‐oxide precursors with hydrogen at 300 to 350°C, and with carbon at 600°C have been evaluated in rechargeable lithium cells. The cathodes which initially have a composition close to contain structures related to the lithiated‐spinel phase and/or orthorhombic The orthorhombic component transforms gradually to a spinel structure on cycling. These cathodes are significantly more tolerant to repeated lithium insertion and extraction, when cycled over both the 4 and 3 V regions, than a standard spinel electrode .