Trace level doping of lithium-rich cathode materials. Issue 9 (10th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lengyel, Miklos; Shen, Kuan-Yu; Lanigan, Deanna M.; Martin, Jonathan M.; Zhang, Xiaofeng; Axelbaum, Richard L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 4:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: 3538
• Page End: 3545
• Publication Date: 2016-02-10
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ta07764h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Lithium ion batteries have revolutionized portable electronics and have the potential to electrify the transportation sector. Abstract : Lithium ion batteries have revolutionized portable electronics and have the potential to electrify the transportation sector. Lithium-rich cathode materials with the composition x Li2 MnO3 ·(1− x )Li(Ni1/3 Mn1/3 Co1/3 )O2 have received considerable attention as candidates for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and Electric Vehicles (EVs). Cathodes made from these materials display high capacity (>200 mAhg −1 ) and good cycling stability, offering twice the energy density of currently available intercalation materials. Unfortunately, their performance is plagued by voltage fade due to a layered-spinel phase transformation. Herein, using spray pyrolysis, we show that certain inexpensive trace level (≤1%) dopants can help in mitigating voltage fade, when the material is cycled between 2.0–4.6 V. The dopants lead to greater capacity loss than what would be expected from a capacity that is strictly based on a change in the transitional-metal oxidation state. The results imply that a portion of the capacity of these materials comes from reversible oxygen chemistry. These findings could put a different perspective on fade mechanism prevention.