LAUSR

Disordered spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) was successfully synthesised via a molten-salt method using a mixture of LiOHH2O and LiNO3 salts. The precursor was annealed at 750, 850 or 950 °C for 12 h, and the effects of calcination temperature on the structure, morphology and electrochemical performance of the resultant LNMO were investigated. At 850 C, LNMO exhibited a polyhedral shape approximately 0.75 μm in size with a specific surface area of 1.8135 m 2 g −1 . Electrochemical results indicated that, among the samples tested, the LNMO sample annealed at 850 °C exhibited the highest discharge capacity of 122 mAh g −1 at the 1 st cycle; these samples also retained 97% of its capacity after 80 rounds of cycling at a rate of 0.2 C. The same sample showed excellent rate capability, indicating exceptional performance even at a high current density. The improved performance of the resulting electrode could be attributed to the homogeneity and small size of the LNMO particles; these characteristics help facilitate Li-ion transport by reducing the Li-ion pathway within the electrode material.