Phase Transition Behavior of MgMn2O4 Spinel Oxide Cathode during Magnesium Ion Insertion

The 3d transition metal oxides with a spinel structure are among the most promising cathode materials for magnesium batteries. In this study, we investigated the reaction mechanism of magnesium ion insertion for magnesium spinel oxides, MgMn2O4, by electrochemical measurements, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld analysis. Open-circuit-potential and XAS measurements showed that Mg2+ insertion into MgMn2O4 does not proceed via a simple two-phase coexistence reaction between the spinel and rock-salt phases. Synchrotron XRD measurements showed that Mg' insertion into MgMn2O4 involves crystal structural changes in three stages. In the early stage of the Mg2+ insertion process (0 < x < 0.2), Mg2+ is inserted into the spinel (MgMn2O4) phase and rock-salt (Mg1.2Mn2O4) phases, which are included in the pristine samples, without significant volume changes. In the middle stage of the Mg2+ insertion process (0.2 < x < 0.4), Mg2+ is inserted into the Mg1+alpha Mn2O4 spinel phase and the Mg2-beta Mn2O4 rock-salt phases with a large volume change. In the last stage of Mg2+ insertion process (0.4 < x < 0.56), Mg2+ insertion proceeds via a two-phase coexistence reaction between Mg1.4Mn2O4 spinel and Mg1.6Mn2O, rock-salt phases without Mg content changes in either phase. The phase transition from the Mg1+alpha Mn2O4 spinel phase to the Mg2-beta Mn2O4 rock-salt phase with a large volume change resulted in significant polarization during the Mg2+ insertion process. Suppressing the phase transition, accompanied by a large volume change, is important in designing a spinel oxide cathode with a high rate performance.

Automated summary

The study revealed that Mg2+ insertion into MgMn2O4 occurs in three stages, with early stage involving insertion into spinel and rock-salt phases, mid-stage involving significant volume change, and late stage involving a two-phase coexistence reaction.