Mn
dissolution is the main drawback of LiMn2O4 cathodes,
leading to capacity fading and anode poisoning. It is
well known that improved capacity/cycling performances have been obtained
by the Al2O3 coating. It is less clear what
is the effect of the coating from the point of view of the fundamental
processes occurring within the active material and on the interface
with the active material, especially during the first cycle, when
a dynamical interaction at a high voltage with an electrolyte and
a binder leads to the formation of a passivation layer. We present
here the close comparison of coated and uncoated electrodes’
X-ray absorption analysis at the interface during the measurements
of several charged/discharged states of the electrode. The Al2O3 coating is significantly effective for stopping
the high voltage instability of the battery, especially, when the
Mn–O couple reacts with organic species, limiting Mn capture
and the electrolyte reaction with the oxide surface. In the low-voltage
discharge, on the other hand, more complex structure/electronic modifications
occur. The presence of the coating limits disproportionation, preventing
a general corrosion with dissolution of the Mn2+ species,
and hence improves the electrode performance. From the structural
point of view, the signatures of the transformations and a reversible
modification of the surface character of the nanoparticles from a
spinel to a defective phase are observed, while no charge transfer
between the coating and manganese oxide is found. The role of nonthermodynamic
interphase formation by means of proton transfer is enhanced for the
coated oxide particles.