Role of carbon nanotube on preparation of spinel LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 cathode

Spinel LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 cathode materials have attracted intensive attention owing to their high operating potential, high theoretical energy density, low cost, and satisfactory safety. However, the practical application of LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 is plagued by poor intrinsic conductivity and poor cycling stability. In this work, a target carbon nanotube-assisted LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 is synthesized via the sol–gel method coupled with a two-step calcination process, and then the role of carbon nanotube in the LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 crystallization is studied. It is shown that the introduction of inexpensive carbon nanotubes realizes an overall coordinating control of the key factors (particle size, crystal surface orientation, Mn 3+ ion concentration, and so on) and thus enhances the electrochemical performances of LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 . This method will reduce the cost of material preparation and effectively promote the practical application of high-voltage spinel LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 .