High‐Capacity Concentration Gradient Li[Ni0.865Co0.120Al0.015]O2 Cathode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

• Published in: Advanced energy materials Vol. 8; no. 19
• Main Authors: Park, Kang‐Joon, Choi, Min‐Jae, Maglia, Filippo, Kim, Sung‐Jin, Kim, Kwang‐Ho, Yoon, Chong S., Sun, Yang‐Kook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 05-07-2018
• Subjects: Cathodes; Chemical attack; Concentration gradient; core–shell with concentration gradient; Corrosion resistance; Cycles; Electric vehicles; Electrode materials; Energy consumption; layered NCA cathodes; Lithium-ion batteries; nickel‐rich cathodes; Organic chemistry; Retention; Structural stability; Surface stability; Thermal stability
• ISSN: 1614-6832; 1614-6840
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201703612

A Ni‐rich concentration‐gradient Li[Ni0.865Co0.120Al0.015]O2 (NCA) cathode is prepared with a Ni‐rich core to maximize the discharge capacity and a Co‐rich particle surface to provide structural and chemical stability. Compared to the conventional NCA cathode with a uniform composition, the gradient NCA cathode exhibits improved capacity retention and better thermal stability. Even more remarkably, the gradient NCA cathode maintains 90% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles when cycled at 60 °C, whereas the conventional cathode exhibits poor capacity retention and suffers severe structural deterioration. The superior cycling stability of the gradient NCA cathode largely stemmed from the gradient structure combines with the Co‐rich surface, which provides chemical stability against electrolyte attack and reduces the inherent internal strain observed in all Ni‐rich layered cathodes in their charged state, thus providing structural stability against the repeated anisotropic volume changes during cycling. The high discharge capacity of the proposed gradient NCA cathode extends the driving range of electric vehicles and reduces battery costs. Furthermore, its excellent capacity retention guarantees a long battery life. Therefore, gradient NCA cathodes represent one of the best classes of cathode materials for electric vehicle applications that should satisfy the demands of future electric vehicles.
A Ni‐rich concentration gradient [Ni0.865Co0.120Al0.015] (NCA) cathode with a Co‐rich particle surface exhibits high capacity and improved cycle life (92% after 500 cycles) compared to the conventional NCA cathode (CC NCA). The Co‐rich surface protects NCA cathode particle from electrolyte attack. Decreased internal strain provides better structural stability against volume changes during cycling compared to the CC NCA.