An alternative, friendlier methodology for the determination of the average manganese valence (ν) of manganese oxides (mainly pure and doped spinels) is presented. This methodology is based on the facile determination of the concentration of Mn 2+ and Fe 2+ ions by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and molecular absorption spectrophotometry (MAS), respectively. Prior to this determination, the manganese oxides are reacted with an acidic solution containing Fe 2+ ions, when all Mn ν+ ions are reduced to Mn
2+. Then, the concentration of Mn 2+ ions is obtained directly by AAS, whereas that of Fe 2+ ions is obtained by MAS after their complexation with o-phenanthroline. Using this methodology, the obtained mean (n = 3) ν values for the stoichiometric oxides Mn 2 O 3 and Mn 3 O 4 are 2.98 ± 0.01 and 2.66 ± 0.01, respectively; their precision is a clear evidence of the suitability of the here-proposed methodology. Additionally, a precise mean ν value (3.46 ± 0.01; n = 3) is also obtained for the spinel Li 1.05 Mn 2 O 4 , whereas a higher ν value (3.52 and 3.53; n = 2) is obtained for the doped spinel Li 1.05 Mn 1.98 Al 0.02 O 3.98 S 0.02 , evidencing that effective doping has been indeed attained. This novel methodology is easily applicable for Mn oxides in electrode materials of many energy storage devices.
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IntroductionIn the last decade, the popularization of portable electronic devices has increased, leading to a growing demand for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In this scenario, some oxides have been targeted for studying and testing as cathode materials in LIBs; the spinel lithium manganese oxide (Li x Mn 2 O 4 ) is one of these oxides.1,2 The use of this spinel is favored by factors such as the manganese abundance, non-toxicity, and low cost, as well as the possibility of insertion of two lithium ions per formula unit.3 When 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, Li 3 Therefore, the average manganese valence of doped spinels is a useful parameter because it can provide information on their effective doping and structural changes.As far as we could ascertain, the most common approach to determine the average manganese valence of manganese oxides has been the Vetter and Jaeger's method, 33 employs an acid solution of potassium iodide to reduce all Mn ions in the manganese oxides to Mn 2+ ions. In this process, iodine is formed and quantified by titration with a sodium thiosulfate solution, while Mn 2+ ions are determined by titration with an EDTA solution. Titration of iodine was also proposed by Licci et al. 34 to determine the average manganese valence in Mn-La complexes. Firstly, after the Mn-La complex is dissolved in dilute H 2 SO 4 , the Mn ions are oxidized to permanganate ions by adding an excess of solid bismuthate, followed by the addition of an iodide solution (also in excess) that converts all permanganate ions into Mn 2+ ions, yielding iodine. In a parallel step, the Mn-La complex is reacted directly with an iodide solution, also yielding iodine. In both cases, the iodine is amperometrically titrated with a thio...