In2O3 modification mitigates Jahn-Teller effect in LiMn2O4 enhancing lithium extraction efficiency and stability

Abstract

The rapid growth of lithium-ion batteries has intensified the demand for lithium, requiring the development of efficient selective extraction methods from salt-lake brines with high magnesia-lithium ratios. This work presents a novel composite electrode material, In₂O₃-modified LiMn₂O₄ (In-LMO), synthesized through solvent evaporation coupled with the calcination method, for Selective electro-chemical extraction of lithium. The introduction of In₂O₃ effectively modulates the local charge state within the LMO structure, resulting in an increased proportion of Mn^VI and mitigating the detrimental Jahn-Teller effect, which typically compromises stability during lithium extraction. Characterizations confirm that the anchoring of In₂O₃ also enhances the stability of lattice oxygen in LMO. The optimized 1In-LMO electrode material demonstrates impressive lithium extraction capacities of 20.18 mg/g in simulated brine, with minimal Mn dissolution and excellent cycling stability. Notably, in the mother liquor of Li₂CO₃ with a high Na/Li ratio (44.8), the system achieves a selective lithium release capacity of 21.33 mg/g, while in the challenging West Taijinar salt lake brine with elevated Mg/Li ratios, a selective extraction capacity of 26.75 mg/g was attained. These results underscore the industrial potential of the 1In-LMO electrode material, positioning it as a promising candidate for sustainable lithium recovery from complex brine sources.