Chem. Mater. 1999, 11, 949-957

Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Properties of Magnesium Birnessite and Zinc Chalcophanite Prepared by a Low Temperature Route

Blake J. Aronson, Andrew K. Kinser, Stefano Passerini,* William H. Smyrl and Andreas Stein*

Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 and Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455

ABSTRACT

Magnesium substituted birnessite and zinc chalcophanite have been synthesized through a novel procedure based on a combination of co-precipitation and metal ion intercalation techniques. The materials showed very promising performance as hosts for lithium intercalation. Upon galvanostatic discharge, Mg-birnessite and Zn-chalcophanite composite cathodes were able to intercalate more than two equivalents of lithium per mole.