Cathode Performance of LiMn₂O₄ Thick Films Prepared by Gas-Deposition for Lithium Rechargeable Battery

Abstract

Lithium manganese oxide thick films were prepared on aluminum foils without any conductive agent or binder material by means of gas-deposition (GD) method. Charge/discharge performances were investigated on the coin-type cells consisting of the GD’ed cathode and the lithium metal anode, which were compared with the case using the cathode conventionally prepared with conductor and binder. In the case that LiMn₂O₄ powders with the particle size of 10 µm were employed as the cathode material, the GD’ed cathode showed smaller discharge capacities in early cycles in comparison with conventionally prepared cathode. However, by roughly milling the cathode powders to modify the particle size distribution, obvious enhancement of discharge capacity was observed only for GD’ed cathode. In terms of the cycle stability, the GD method was effective to prepare the cathode material having a good performance.