Synthesis and characterization of nano Mn3O4 and LiMn2O4 spinel from manganese ore and pure materials.

Extraction of nano materials form natural ores is considered as an interesting point of research. The present work focuses on preparation of nano Mn 3 O 4 from two different sources, namely; manganese ore and pure chemicals. Mn 3 O 4 leached from manganese ore or that prepared from pure chemicals were utilized for preparation of LiMn 2 O 4 spinel by solid state method. The prepared oxide and spinel materials were investigated by XRF, XRD, TEM, SEM, BET and particle size distribution. The results revealed that the percentage of Mn 3 O 4 reached 82% for that leached from manganese ore and 99.1% for that prepared from pure chemicals. Both of them exhibited needle-like particles with comparable size of several nanometers; at least in one dimension. The analysis of manganese oxide leached from manganese ore exhibited Mn 3 O 4 , iron oxide and some impurities while that prepared from pure chemical displayed only pure Mn 3 O 4. LiMn 2 O 4 spinel and excess manganese oxide were detected in the sample prepared using pure Mn 3 O 4 while only LiMn 2 O 4 spinel phase was detected in the sample prepared using oxide leached form manganese ore. The particle size of LiMn 2 O 4 prepared from pure Mn 3 O 4 (50 nm - <1 μm) was smaller than that prepared from oxide leached from manganese ore (100 nm - 2 μm). Consequently, the surface area of LiMn 2 O 4 prepared from pure Mn 3 O 4 was higher than (9.32 m2/g) that prepared form leached Mn 3 O 4 (2.34 m2/g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]