Journal of Power Sources, Vol.81-82, 607-611, 1999
Electrochemical behaviour of LiMn2O4-PPy composite cathodes in the 4-V region
Core-shell type particles were prepared by reaction of LiMn2O4 powders in an aqueous solution of pyrrole and paratoluene sulfonic acid. Thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction studies of these organic-inorganic hybrid particles demonstrated that the polymerization of pyrrole was accompanied by delithiation of the starting spinel, manganese dissolution and creation of electrochemically inactive lambda-MnO2. This mechanism of polymerization was confirmed by changing the experimental conditions, e.g., starting from lambda-MnO2 powders and using H2O-lithium paratoluene sulfonate medium. The protective effect of PPy coating on the cyclability at 55 degrees C of these particles was studied in order to solve the well-known problem of capacity fading and self-discharge at elevated temperature of the LiMn2O4 spinels.