Experimental, mathematical modelling and theoretical investigation of Ti and Sn Co-doped LiMn₂O₄; enhancing structural and electrochemical properties for cathode Lithium-Ion batteries
摘要
The spinel-structured material LiMn2O4 (LMO) has attracted attention for its good rate capability but suffers from capacity fading, manganese dissolution, and poor stability at high temperatures. Partial doping with other elements is an effective strategy to address these issues. To identify suitable dopants, a mathematical modelling on flow and heat transfer using water mixed with Titanium, Aluminium, and Copper nanoparticles was conducted. The results showed that heat transfer improves mainly at low nanoparticle concentrations, with Titanium–water performing better than Aluminium–water and Copper–water. Stannum (Sn) was then chosen as a co-dopant due to its ability to enhance both structural and electrochemical properties when used in multi-dopant systems. Thus, Ti and Sn co-doped LiMn2−x−yTixSnyO4 was proposed for improved structural stability. Pristine LMO, Ti-doped (LMTO), and Ti-Sn co-doped (LMTSO) samples were synthesized via the combustion method and annealed at 700 °C for 24 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refinement confirmed single-phase cubic spinel formation without structural disorder. Feild Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Scpectroscopy (EDX) analyses showed uniformly distributed polyhedral particles below 100 nm, with homogeneous distribution of Mn, O, Ti, and Sn. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations using GGA-PBE were carried out to evaluate the stability of Ti and Sn doping at different lattice sites, confirming the theoretical predictions with the experimental findings. Electrochemical testing revealed that LMTO and LMTSO delivered initial discharge capacities of 124.4 mAhg⁻¹ and 156.7 mAhg⁻¹, respectively. These results highlight that partial substitution with Ti and Sn significantly enhances both structural stability and electrochemical performance, offering a promising pathway towards durable, high-capacity cathodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.