High rate performance and long cycle stability of lithium manganate nanofibers by tuned pre-oxidation treatment

One-dimensional (1D) spinel phase LiAl0.05Ni0.05Mn1.9O4 (LANMO) nanofibers are successfully assembled via an electrospinning precursor nanofiber followed by a tuned pro-oxidation heat treatment and calcine process. Decomposition process of polymer has great influence on the morphology and properties of precursor nanofibers, appropriate middle temperature (200–400 °C) heat treatment can form a relatively stable barrier between spinel crystallite and inhibit the recrystallization at higher temperature, resulting to a nanofiber consist of uniform fine particles. The resulting LANMO material exhibit superior electrochemical performance at high rate long cycle test (108 mAh g−1 at 20 C rate after 1000 cycles, charge and discharge in same rate, room temperature) and good capacity retention at high temperature (73% capacity retention after 400 cycles at 10 C rate 55 °C). The improved high rate performance and long cycle stability can be attributed to the shortened lithium distribution path and sphericity-like particles resulting from the tuned pro-oxidation heat treatment. •Studied the influences of middle temperature pre-oxidation heat treatment.•Proposed the mechanism of middle temperature pro-oxidation heat treatment.•The modified material delivers discharge capacity of 108 mAh g−1 at 20 C rate.