Solvothermal synthesis and electrochemical performance of Li2MnSiO4/C cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

Orthorhombic structure Li 2 MnSiO 4 /C with Pmn2 1 space group is synthesized by the solvothermal method. Carbon coating and Ni 2+ doping are used to improve the electronic conductivity and the cycling performance of Li 2 MnSiO 4 cathode material, respectively. The particles of Li 2 MnSiO 4 /C are much smaller and more uniform than those of Li 2 MnSiO 4 due to the carbon coating. It is shown that Ni 2+ has been reduced into metal Ni during the synthesis process. The synthesized Ni-modified Li 2 MnSiO 4 /C (denoted as (LMS@Ni)/C) cathode material exhibits better electrochemical performance in comparison with Li 2 MnSiO 4 /C, attributing to higher lithium ion diffusion coefficient as well as electronic conductivity. The initial discharge capacity of (LMS@Ni)/C is 274.5   mA   h   g −1 and the reversible capacity after 20 cycles is 119.8   mA   h   g −1 at 25   °C.