Liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis as alternative synthesis for electrochemically active nano-sized Li 2 MnSiO 4

Abstract

A novel liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis synthesis with reducing post-heat treatment yielding highly phase pure nano-sized and carbon-coated Li2MnSiO4 is reported. In contrast to most reported Li2MnSiO4 synthesis routes, aerosol combustion methods are highly scalable and not as time consuming as most wet chemical syntheses. Flame spray pyrolysis was performed using solutions with varying ratios of H2O, EtOH and p-Xylene. The importance of solution combustibility to form loosely agglomerated nanoparticles is highlighted. Particles from the p-Xylene-aided flame spray pyrolysis showed a mean particle size of 20 nm and Pmn2 1 structure after annealing and carbon coating. The electrochemical performance as a cathode material was assessed by galvanostatic cycling and in situ XRD in half cells. The highest discharge capacity observed was 190 mAh g−1 at room temperature and a rate of C/50.