Solution combustion synthesis of LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 powders by a mixture of fuels

Two mixtures of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) together with glycine and citric acid fuels were used in solution combustion synthesis of LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 powders. The slow decomposition rate of CTAB fuel along with high decomposition rate of glycine and citric acid fuels led to the direct formation of spinel LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4. The particle size increased from 10 to 150 nm and from 11 to 250 nm by the increase of CTAB-glycine and CTAB-citric acid mixed fuels, respectively. The highest discharge capacity of 122 mAhg-1 was obtained by the mixture of CTAB and glycine fuels, while the CTAB-citric acid mixed fuels showed the higher discharge capacity of 139 mAhg-1 with retention of 99% after 30 cycles, due to their smaller particles and higher specific surface areas.