Palladium-gold nanoalloy surface modified limn2o4 cathode for enhanced li-ion battery

Abstract

Au with Pd nanoparticles were synthesized and coated onto the spinel LiMn2O4 via a coprecipitation calcination method with the objective to improve the microstructure, conductivity, and electrochemical activities of pristine LiMn2O4. The novel Li[PdAu]𝑥Mn2−𝑥O4 composite cathode had high phase purity, well crystallized particles, and more regular morphological structures with narrow size distributions. At enlarged cycling potential ranges the Li[PdAu]𝑥Mn2−𝑥O4 sample delivered 90 mAh g−1 discharge capacity compared to LiMn2O4 (45 mAh g−1). It was concluded that even a small amount of the Pd and Au enhanced both the lithium diffusivity and electrochemical conductivity of the host sample due to the beneficial properties of their synergy. Lithium-ion batteries are becoming incredibly popular in modern electronic devices. Compared with traditional battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, with an operating voltage of ∼3.7 V, last longer, and have a higher power density in a lighter package [1].