10.1021/am401894t.s001 Charl J. Jafta Charl J. Jafta Mkhulu K. Mathe Mkhulu K. Mathe Ncholu Manyala Ncholu Manyala Wiets D. Roos Wiets D. Roos Kenneth I. Ozoemena Kenneth I. Ozoemena Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of High-Voltage Nanostructured LiMn<sub>1.5</sub>Ni<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Spinel: Tuning the Mn<sup>3+</sup> Content and Electrochemical Performance American Chemical Society 2013 Electrochemical PerformanceThe LiMn 1.5Ni spinel capacity application performance microwave irradiation lithium ion battery cathode material LiMn 1.5Ni spinel 2013-08-14 00:00:00 Journal contribution https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Microwave_Assisted_Synthesis_of_High_Voltage_Nanostructured_LiMn_sub_1_5_sub_Ni_sub_0_5_sub_O_sub_4_sub_Spinel_Tuning_the_Mn_sup_3_sup_Content_and_Electrochemical_Performance/2386852 The LiMn<sub>1.5</sub>Ni<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>4</sub> spinel is an important lithium ion battery cathode material that has continued to receive major research attention because of its high operating voltage (∼4.8 V). This study interrogates the impact of microwave irradiation on the Mn<sup>3+</sup> concentration and electrochemistry of the LiMn<sub>1.5</sub>Ni<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>4</sub> spinel. It is shown that microwave is capable of tuning the Mn<sup>3+</sup> content of the spinel for enhanced electrochemical performance (high capacity, high capacity retention, excellent rate capability, and fast Li<sup>+</sup> insertion/extraction kinetics). This finding promises to revolutionize the application of microwave irradiation for improved performance of the LiMn<sub>1.5</sub>Ni<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>4</sub> spinel, especially in high rate applications.