Enhanced interfacial reaction interface stability of Ni-rich cathode materials by fabricating dual-modified layer coating for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-Ion Conductive Coatings for Nickel-Rich Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Nickel (Ni)-rich cathodes are among the most promising cathode materials of lithium batteries, ascribed to their high-power density, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness, having extensive applications from portable electronics to electric vehicles and national grids. They can boost the wide implementation of renewable energies and thereby contribute to carbon neutrality and achieving sustainable prosperity in the modern society. Nevertheless, these cathodes suffer from significant technical challenges, leading to poor cycling performance and safety risks. The underlying mechanisms are residual lithium compounds, uncontrolled lithium/nickel cation mixing, severe interface reactions, irreversible phase transition, anisotropic internal stress, and microcracking. Notably, they have become more serious with increasing Ni content and have been impeding the widespread commercial applications of Ni-rich cathodes. Various strategies have been developed to tackle these issues, such as elemental doping, adding electrolyte additives, and surface coating. Surface coating has been a facile and effective route and has been investigated widely among them. Of numerous surface coating materials, have recently emerged as highly attractive options due to their high lithium-ion conductivity. In this review, a thorough and comprehensive review of lithium-ion conductive coatings (LCCs) are made, aimed at probing their underlying mechanisms for improved cell performance and stimulating new research efforts.

Surface Engineering of Cathode Materials: Enhancing the High Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries

The development and application of lithium-ion batteries present a dual global prospect of opportunity and challenge. With conventional energy sources facing reserve shortages and environmental issues, lithium-ion batteries have emerged as a transformative technology over the past decade, owing to their superior properties. They are poised for exponential growth in the realms of electric vehicles and energy storage. The cathode, a vital component of lithium-ion batteries, undergoes chemical and electrochemical reactions at its surface that directly impact the battery's energy density, lifespan, power output, and safety. Despite the increasing energy density of lithium-ion batteries, their cathodes commonly encounter surface-side reactions with the electrolyte and exhibit low conductivity, which hinder their utility in high-power and energy-storage applications. Surface engineering has emerged as a compelling strategy to address these challenges. This paper meticulously examines the principles and progress of surface engineering for cathode materials, providing insights into its potential advancements and charting its development trajectory for practical implementation.

Chiral Molecular Coating of a LiNiCoMnO2 Cathode for High-Rate Capability Lithium-Ion Batteries

The growing demand for energy has increased the need for battery storage, with lithium-ion batteries being widely used. Among those, nickel-rich layered lithium transition metal oxides [LiNi1-x-yCoxMnyO2 NCM (1 - x - y > 0.5)] are some of the promising cathode materials due to their high specific capacities and working voltages. In this study, we demonstrate that a thin, simple coating of polyalanine chiral molecules improves the performance of Ni-rich cathodes. The chiral organic coating of the active material enhances the discharge capacity and rate capability. Specifically, NCM811 and NCM622 electrodes coated with chiral molecules exhibit lower voltage hysteresis and better rate performance, with a capacity improvement of >10% at a 4 C discharge rate and an average improvement of 6%. We relate these results to the chirally induced spin selectivity effect that enables us to reduce the resistance of the electrode interface and to reduce dramatically the overpotential needed for the chemical process by aligning the electron spins.

F-Doped Ni-Rich Layered Cathode Material with Improved Rate Performance for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Ni-rich layered cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries have received widespread attention due to their large capacity and low cost; however, the structural stability of the material needs to be improved. Herein, F-doped and undoped cathode materials prepared with an advanced co-precipitation method were used to measure the effect of F doping on the material. Compared to the undoped sample, the F-doped cathode materials exhibited an improved rate performance, because the porous structure of F-doped cathode materials is favorable for the infiltration of the electrolyte and the material, and the F-doped cathode material has a larger (003) crystal plane and a smaller Li+ migration barrier energy. This simple F-doping treatment strategy provides a promising way to improve the performance of Ni-rich layered cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.