Size and morphology controlled lithium manganese oxide on silica sphere with core-shell structure

Core-shell structures were prepared from synthesized SiO2-LiMn2O4 with manganese oxide as shell on the silica core by a precipitation method, which allowed control of core structure in terms of thickness and particle size. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), field emission-transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the SiO2-LiMn2O4. According to FE-SEM images, particle growth was controlled by controlling the amount of manganese precursor and the temperature. The synthesized core-shell structure was composed of silica, lithium silicate, Mn2O3, and the spinel phase of lithium manganese oxide. Electrochemical measurements show that the synthesized core-shell structure has poorer electrochemical performance than that of LiMn2O4.