Precision engineering of high-performance Ni-rich layered cathodes with radially aligned microstructure through architectural regulation of precursors
Xin Zhou,
FeiFei Hong,
Shuo Wang,
Tian Zhao,
Jiali Peng,
Bin Zhang,
Weifeng Fan,
Wangyan Xing,
Meihua Zuo,
Ping Zhang,
Yuhuan Zhou,
Genpin Lv,
Yanjun Zhong,
Weibo Hua,
Wei Xiang
Affiliations
Xin Zhou
School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
FeiFei Hong
College of Materials and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Shuo Wang
College of Materials and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China; Yibin Tianyuan Group Co Ltd., Yibin 644000, China
Tian Zhao
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
Jiali Peng
Institute for Applied Materials (IAM), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
Bin Zhang
Yibin Tianyuan Group Co Ltd., Yibin 644000, China
Weifeng Fan
Yibin Tianyuan Group Co Ltd., Yibin 644000, China
Wangyan Xing
Yibin Tianyuan Group Co Ltd., Yibin 644000, China
Meihua Zuo
Yibin Tianyuan Group Co Ltd., Yibin 644000, China
Ping Zhang
Yibin Tianyuan Group Co Ltd., Yibin 644000, China
Yuhuan Zhou
Yibin Tianyuan Group Co Ltd., Yibin 644000, China
Genpin Lv
Ruyuan HEC New Energy Materials Co., Ltd., Ruyuan 512700, China
Yanjun Zhong
School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Corresponding authors.
Weibo Hua
School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China; Corresponding authors.
Wei Xiang
College of Materials and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China; Yibin Tianyuan Group Co Ltd., Yibin 644000, China; Ruyuan HEC New Energy Materials Co., Ltd., Ruyuan 512700, China; Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory, Chengdu 610213, China; Corresponding authors.
Microstructure engineering serves as a potent approach to counteract the mechanical deterioration of Ni-rich layered cathodes, stemming from anisotropic strain during Li+ (de)intercalation. However, a pressing challenge persists in devising a direct method for fabricating radially aligned cathodes utilizing oriented hydroxide precursors. In this study, we synthesized LiNi0.92Co0.04Mn0.04O2 oxides boasting superior radially aligned, size-refined primary particles through a combination of strategic precipitation regulation and lithiation tuning. Elongated primary particles, achieved by stepwise control of ammonia concentration and pH during particle growth, facilitate the formation of radially aligned hydroxide precursor particles. Leveraging the size-refined and radially aligned primary particles, our prepared LiNi0.92Co0.04Mn0.04O2 cathode exhibits a high discharge capacity of 229 mAh g−1 at 0.05 C, alongside excellent cycle stability, retaining 93.3% capacity after 200 cycles at 0.5 C (30 °C) in a half cell, and 86.4% capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 C (30 °C) in a full cell. Revisiting the regulation from precursor to oxide underscores the significance of controlling primary particles to maximize size perpendicular to [001] and attain suitable size along [001] during precursor precipitation and high-temperature calcination, offering valuable insights for synthesizing high-performance Ni-rich cathodes.
