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Spinel LiMn2O4 as a cathode material for lithium rechargeable batteries is economically prepared by a novel eutectic self-mixing method without any artificial mixing procedures of reactants. The phase transitions of lithium manganese oxide are found three times on the preparation. Thus, those process controls are discussed and emphasized. The prepared LiMn2O4 exhibits the initial discharge capacity of 124.8 mAh g−1 and the discharge capacity retention of 98.2% after 20 cycles.

Lithiated cathode materials are economically prepared using eutectic self-mixing method, spontaneous mixing of molten acetates and direct thermal reaction, without pulverization, grinding, agglomeration, morphology controlling, particle size controlling, and even any artificial stirring. When the chemical compounds with low melting point, such as lithium acetate and manganese acetate, are exposed to their eutectic temperature, they can be fluid substances by themselves without any solvents and spontaneous mixing. Using this method, we succeed in obtaining various lithiated cathode materials by just simple heat treatment. The discharge capacities of 149.5, 162.2, and 112.0 mA h/g for LiCoO2, LiNi0.8Co0.2O2, and LiMn2O4, respectively, prepared by this method demonstrate that the prepared materials are quite prospective as cathode materials for lithium rechargeable battery.

LiMO2 (M=Ni and Co) films were directly fabricated in a concentrated LiOH solution at fixed temperatures, between 100 and 200 °C, using Soft Solution Processing. Film formation mechanism studies elucidate the key role of hydroxyl group in obtaining the LiCoO2 films and of electrochemical anodic process in obtaining the LiNiO2 films. It is also found that the formation of the LiMO2 (M=Ni and Co) is fully based on dissolution–precipitation model. Successful preparation of LiMO2 (M=Ni and Co) films using the newly designed experimental conditions based on the elucidation of the microstructuring mechanism shows a good example of how to introduce more economical, energy and material efficient, and environment-friendly synthetic route.