Confined growth of lithium manganese oxide nanoparticles

Nanostructures of single crystallites of spinel LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) were prepared by the simple pyrolysis of aqueous solution of LiNO₃ and Mn(NO₃)₂ in a confined space such as either droplets or mesopores. When the mixed nitrate solution was spray pyrolyzed at temperatures below 700 °C, 1-μm LMO spheres were obtained consisting of ~20-nm single crystallites randomly packed. Such LMO phase, once obtained, would sustain for further heat-treatment. Next, new spraying solution was prepared by adding the precursor for mesoporous silica (MPS) to the nitrates solution. By spray pyrolyzing such solution, LMO was impregnated inside pores of the MPS being structured. The silica could be removed by subsequent NaOH treatment to leave spherical LMO mesophase. The nitrates was also able to soak into the existing MPS having cylindrical pores and form short isolated LMO chains in the mesopores by the subsequent heating. After the same NaOH treatment, the LMO phase turned into bundles of very ‘long’, and often straight, chains, consisting of 8-nm LMO nanoparticles. This will be elucidated through further study.