MgCo₂O₄ microspheres were synthesized through a facile solvothermal method. The as-synthesized microspheres were about 3–8 μm in diameter and were assembled closely by nanoparticles. The cation distribution and cobalt (Co) valence were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Co³⁺ and Co²⁺ ions were all present in the samples. Co³⁺ ions were located in the octahedral sites and Co²⁺ occupied both tetrahedral and octahedral sites of the spinel structure, the inversion degree was 0.22–0.17 and slightly decreased with increasing calcination temperature. The electrochemical performance of the samples as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) was studied, the result showed that the sample calcined at 400 °C displayed the largest initial discharge capacity of 1120 mA h·g⁻¹ and the capacity decreased with increasing temperature.

MgCo ₂ O ₄微球是通过简便的溶剂热法合成的。合成的微球直径约为 3-8 μm，由纳米颗粒紧密组装。通过 X 射线光电子能谱 (XPS) 研究了阳离子分布和钴 (Co) 价态。Co ³⁺和Co ²⁺离子都存在于样品中。Co ³⁺离子位于八面体位置，Co ²⁺占据尖晶石结构的四面体和八面体位点，反转度为0.22-0.17，随着煅烧温度的升高而略有下降。对作为锂离子电池（LIBs）负极材料的样品的电化学性能进行了研究，结果表明，在 400 °C 下煅烧的样品显示出最大的初始放电容量为 1120 mA h·g ^-1并且容量随着温度升高。