Reinvestigation of Li2MnO3 Structure: Electron Diffraction and High Resolution TEM

The structure of Li2MnO3 was investigated by the means of X-ray and electron diffraction as well as high resolution transmission electron microscopy experiments. Extra spots are present in the Li2MnO3 electron diffraction patterns, and their origin is fully understood and explained here. They result from the existence of diffuse scattering lines observed along the c* monoclinic axis, intercepted by the Ewald's sphere, and not from double diffraction phenomenon nor from superstructure. Furthermore, the origin of these scattering lines is due to stacking faults of the ordered lithium/manganese layers along the c-axis that were observed in images obtained using high resolution transmission electron microscopy.