{
  "node": {
    "id": "term:spinel-structure",
    "type": "Term",
    "label": "Spinel structure",
    "properties": {
      "id": "spinel-structure",
      "name": "Spinel structure",
      "aka": [
        "spinel crystal structure",
        "AB₂O₄ structure"
      ],
      "section": "topic-chemistries",
      "definition": "A cubic crystal structure of formula AB₂O₄ in which, for lithium materials, lithium sits in tetrahedral sites and transition metals in octahedral ones, leaving three-dimensional channels for lithium to move. That gives good rate capability; it is the framework of LMO, high-voltage LNMO and lithium titanate. Manganese spinels suffer manganese dissolution and Jahn–Teller distortion.",
      "related": [
        "lmo",
        "lnmo",
        "lto",
        "layered-oxide",
        "olivine-structure",
        "transition-metal-dissolution"
      ],
      "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/spinel-structure/",
      "mentions": [
        "rate-capability",
        "jahn-teller-distortion",
        "manganese"
      ]
    }
  },
  "edges": [
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      "id": "edge:6082",
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        "sourceFile": "terms.json"
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    {
      "id": "edge:6083",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:lmo",
      "type": "relatedTo",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
        "meaning": "Related context; not a causal claim"
      }
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    {
      "id": "edge:6084",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:lnmo",
      "type": "relatedTo",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
        "meaning": "Related context; not a causal claim"
      }
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    {
      "id": "edge:6085",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:lto",
      "type": "relatedTo",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
        "meaning": "Related context; not a causal claim"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "edge:6086",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:layered-oxide",
      "type": "relatedTo",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
        "meaning": "Related context; not a causal claim"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "edge:6087",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:olivine-structure",
      "type": "relatedTo",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
        "meaning": "Related context; not a causal claim"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "edge:6088",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:transition-metal-dissolution",
      "type": "relatedTo",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
        "meaning": "Related context; not a causal claim"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "edge:mentions/spinel-structure/rate-capability",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:rate-capability",
      "type": "mentions",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
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        "field": "definition",
        "meaning": "Text mention; not a causal claim"
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    {
      "id": "edge:mentions/spinel-structure/jahn-teller-distortion",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:jahn-teller-distortion",
      "type": "mentions",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
        "method": "build_glossary.mention_index + mentions",
        "field": "definition",
        "meaning": "Text mention; not a causal claim"
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      "id": "edge:mentions/spinel-structure/manganese",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "term:manganese",
      "type": "mentions",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "terms.json",
        "method": "build_glossary.mention_index + mentions",
        "field": "definition",
        "meaning": "Text mention; not a causal claim"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "edge:6092",
      "source": "term:spinel-structure",
      "target": "reference:manthiram-cathodes",
      "type": "cites",
      "properties": {
        "sourceFile": "wiki-references.json",
        "scope": "direct technical reference"
      }
    }
  ],
  "neighbors": [
    {
      "id": "topic:topic-chemistries",
      "type": "Topic",
      "label": "Lithium-ion chemistries and cell formats",
      "properties": {
        "id": "topic-chemistries",
        "name": "Lithium-ion chemistries and cell formats",
        "lede": "The electrode materials that define a lithium-ion cell, the crystal structures behind them, and the shapes cells are built in.",
        "context": "Separate chemistry from form factor.",
        "example": "Two cylindrical cells can share dimensions yet differ in cathode, capacity and current limits.",
        "lesson_url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/fundamentals/cell-architecture/",
        "lesson_label": "Open cell architecture"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:lmo",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "LMO",
      "properties": {
        "id": "lmo",
        "name": "LMO",
        "aka": [
          "lithium manganese oxide",
          "spinel"
        ],
        "section": "topic-chemistries",
        "definition": "A manganese spinel positive material, LiMn₂O₄, that is cheap, safe and good at high power but suffers manganese dissolution and short life at elevated temperature. It is often blended with NMC rather than used alone.",
        "related": [
          "transition-metal-dissolution",
          "nmc",
          "cathode-active-material",
          "lnmo"
        ],
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/lmo/",
        "mentions": [
          "manganese"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:lnmo",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "LNMO",
      "properties": {
        "id": "lnmo",
        "name": "LNMO",
        "aka": [
          "high-voltage spinel"
        ],
        "section": "topic-chemistries",
        "definition": "A nickel-doped manganese spinel, LiNi₀.₅Mn₁.₅O₄, that works at about 4.7 V and contains no cobalt. Its high voltage stresses today’s electrolytes, which is the main obstacle to commercial use.",
        "related": [
          "lmo",
          "electrochemical-stability-window",
          "electrolyte-decomposition"
        ],
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/lnmo/",
        "mentions": [
          "cobalt",
          "manganese"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:lto",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "Lithium titanate",
      "properties": {
        "id": "lto",
        "name": "Lithium titanate",
        "abbr": "LTO",
        "section": "topic-components",
        "definition": "A negative active material, Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, that works at about 1.55 V above lithium, so it never plates lithium and forms almost no SEI. The price is a low cell voltage of about 2.4 V and low energy density, traded for very long life and fast charging.",
        "related": [
          "anode-active-material",
          "lithium-plating",
          "fast-charging",
          "cycle-life",
          "niobium-tungsten-oxide"
        ],
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/lto/",
        "mentions": [
          "active-material",
          "sei",
          "energy-density",
          "cell-voltage"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:layered-oxide",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "Layered oxide",
      "properties": {
        "id": "layered-oxide",
        "name": "Layered oxide",
        "abbr": "LTMO",
        "aka": [
          "layered transition-metal oxide",
          "α-NaFeO₂ structure",
          "O3 structure",
          "P2 structure"
        ],
        "section": "topic-chemistries",
        "definition": "The crystal structure of LCO, NMC and NCA: close-packed oxygen layers with lithium and transition-metal ions in alternate layers of octahedral sites, so lithium moves in two-dimensional sheets. The structure offers high capacity and voltage but can distort or mix cations when deeply delithiated. Sodium versions are labelled O3 or P2 by their stacking.",
        "related": [
          "nmc",
          "lco",
          "nca",
          "structural-degradation",
          "spinel-structure",
          "sodium-ion"
        ],
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/layered-oxide/",
        "mentions": [
          "stacking"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:olivine-structure",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "Olivine structure",
      "properties": {
        "id": "olivine-structure",
        "name": "Olivine structure",
        "aka": [
          "LiMPO₄ structure",
          "phospho-olivine"
        ],
        "section": "topic-chemistries",
        "definition": "The orthorhombic structure of LiFePO₄ and its relatives, in which phosphate groups lock oxygen in place and lithium lies in one-dimensional channels. Strong phosphorus–oxygen bonds make the material thermally stable and long-lived, but one-dimensional diffusion and poor electronic conductivity call for small, carbon-coated particles. LMFP substitutes manganese to raise the voltage.",
        "related": [
          "lfp",
          "lmfp",
          "polyanionic-cathode",
          "spinel-structure",
          "layered-oxide",
          "particle-size"
        ],
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/olivine-structure/",
        "mentions": [
          "electronic-conductivity",
          "diffusion",
          "manganese"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:transition-metal-dissolution",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "Transition-metal dissolution",
      "properties": {
        "id": "transition-metal-dissolution",
        "name": "Transition-metal dissolution",
        "section": "topic-aging",
        "definition": "Manganese, nickel or cobalt ions leaching from the positive electrode into the electrolyte, especially at high voltage and temperature or when HF is present. They migrate to the negative electrode and poison the SEI there, accelerating lithium loss.",
        "related": [
          "lmo",
          "hydrofluoric-acid",
          "sei",
          "loss-of-active-material",
          "crosstalk"
        ],
        "lesson": "fundamentals/battery-aging/#crystals",
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/transition-metal-dissolution/",
        "mentions": [
          "electrode",
          "negative-electrode",
          "positive-electrode",
          "electrolyte",
          "cobalt",
          "leaching",
          "manganese"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:rate-capability",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "Rate capability",
      "properties": {
        "id": "rate-capability",
        "name": "Rate capability",
        "section": "topic-ratings",
        "definition": "How much of its capacity a cell can still deliver as the C-rate rises. It is measured by discharging at a series of rates and falls faster for thick, dense electrodes and at low temperature.",
        "related": [
          "c-rate",
          "ideal-duration",
          "polarization",
          "tortuosity",
          "peukert"
        ],
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/rate-capability/",
        "mentions": []
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:jahn-teller-distortion",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "Jahn–Teller distortion",
      "properties": {
        "id": "jahn-teller-distortion",
        "name": "Jahn–Teller distortion",
        "aka": [
          "Jahn–Teller effect"
        ],
        "section": "topic-aging",
        "definition": "The elongation of a metal–oxygen octahedron around an ion with an unevenly filled d-shell, notably high-spin Mn³⁺. When LiMn₂O₄ is discharged below about 3 V vs Li/Li⁺, so many Mn³⁺ ions distort together that the crystal turns from cubic to tetragonal; the strain cracks particles, and Mn³⁺ disproportionation feeds manganese dissolution.",
        "related": [
          "lmo",
          "structural-degradation",
          "transition-metal-dissolution",
          "particle-cracking",
          "phase-transition"
        ],
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/jahn-teller-distortion/",
        "mentions": [
          "manganese"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "term:manganese",
      "type": "Term",
      "label": "Manganese",
      "properties": {
        "id": "manganese",
        "name": "Manganese",
        "aka": [
          "manganese sulfate",
          "high-purity manganese sulfate",
          "HPMSM"
        ],
        "section": "topic-sustainability",
        "definition": "A cheap, abundant metal used in NMC, LMO and LMFP positive electrodes and in alkaline cells. Ore comes mostly from South Africa, Gabon and Australia, but about 95 % of battery-grade high-purity manganese sulfate was refined in China in 2024, which puts manganese on critical-raw-material lists despite plentiful reserves.",
        "related": [
          "nmc",
          "lmo",
          "lmfp",
          "critical-raw-materials",
          "cobalt",
          "nickel-sulfate"
        ],
        "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/manganese/",
        "mentions": []
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "reference:manthiram-cathodes",
      "type": "Reference",
      "label": "A reflection on lithium-ion battery cathode chemistry",
      "properties": {
        "title": "A reflection on lithium-ion battery cathode chemistry",
        "publisher": "Nature Communications",
        "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15355-0",
        "type": "Review article",
        "scope": "Layered oxides, spinels and polyanion cathodes; links between composition, structure and performance.",
        "year": 2020,
        "authors": [
          "Arumugam Manthiram"
        ],
        "accessed": "2026-10-27"
      }
    }
  ]
}