The role of defects on the Jahn-teller effect and electrochemical charge storage in nanometric LiMn2O4 material

Reducing the particle size to improve the electrochemical properties of LiMn2O4 has been a common practice along the last years claiming that, by doing this, the Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion in its 3 V region is reduced. However, only a few papers have proved actual links between the mitigation of the JT effect and particle size; therefore, the JT effect is often entangled with mechanical and kinetic improvements, which are also associated to diminishing the particle size. Regardless that, there is a consensus that reducing particle size positively impacts Li+ insertion into LiMn2O4, particularly in its 3 V plateau. On the other hand, defects have emerged as factors determining the electrochemical behaviours of LiMn2O4. Several works pointed out that certain defects such as Mnitet, F and V colour centres, dislocations or voids, could improve the 3 V performance of the LiMn2O4 by decreasing the JT distortion. Nevertheless, the preponderant defect causing this enhancement has not yet been established. The present paper aims to determine, among Mnitet, F and V centres as well as dislocations, which defect impacts the most on the JT transition, specific capacity and stability of nanometric LiMn2O4. The aforementioned defects were detected by HRTEM, XRD, UV–Vis as well as magnetic measurements. Their implications on the potential drop caused by the JT effect, specific capacity and stability were recorded by potentiometric and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements. The results indicate that only Mnitet-related defect reduces the JT distortion, increasing the stability and capacity within the 3 V region, especially when particle are small. •Was attained the influence of structural defects on the electrochemical properties of nanometric LiMn2O4.•Were produced structural defects by using different doses of 60Co gamma irradiation.•Were produced partial and total dislocations, stacking faults as well as colour centres.•A diminution of the potential drop is produced when Mn changes its coordination.•The nanometric samples with Mn partial inversion showed a better cycling stability and capacity along the cubic/tetragonal region.