Structural study of Li₂MnO₃ by electron microscopy

Detailed crystallographic data on high-quality Li₂MnO₃ material has been obtained using a combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM), and 0.1 nm probe high-angle annular dark-field imaging (HAADF) in a scanning transmission electron microscope. A high-purity Li₂MnO₃ powder was annealed at 950 °C for 3 days to obtain predominantly defect-free grains which average size was 3.0 ± 1.5 μm. Rietveld refinement indicated that the C2/m spacegroup provided the best fit for the XRD data. Electron diffraction patterns obtained along various zone axes, on defect-free oxide particles, could be uniquely indexed to the monoclinic structure. HREM and HAADF images of defect-free grains were consistent with a Li–Mn–Mn– arrangement, i.e., lithium ordering in the transition metal planes. Low-magnification TEM images occasionally revealed stacking defects within oxide particles. HREM images of sample areas containing defects revealed a low density of stacking faults within the monoclinic sequence, resulting in a trigonal P3 ₁ 12 local arrangement.