Scalable Precise Nanofilm Coating and Gradient Al Doping Enable Stable Battery Cycling of LiCoO2 at 4.7 V

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 63; no. 32; pp. e202407898 - n/a
• Main Authors: Yao, Jia, Li, Yuyu, Xiong, Tiantian, Fan, Yameng, Zhao, Lingfei, Cheng, Xiangxin, Tian, Yunan, Li, Lele, Li, Yan, Zhang, Wen, Yu, Peng, Guo, Pingmei, Yang, Zehui, Peng, Jian, Xue, Lixing, Wang, Jiazhao, Li, Zhaohuai, Xie, Ming, Liu, Huakun, Dou, Shixue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 05-08-2024
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: Atomic Layered Deposition; Coating; Coatings; collective surface architecture; Cycles; Doping; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; gradient doping; high-voltage; LiCoO2 cathode; Lithium compounds; Phase transitions; Side reactions; Stability; Voltage
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202407898

The quest for smart electronics with higher energy densities has intensified the development of high‐voltage LiCoO2 (LCO). Despite their potential, LCO materials operating at 4.7 V faces critical challenges, including interface degradation and structural collapse. Herein, we propose a collective surface architecture through precise nanofilm coating and doping that combines an ultra‐thin LiAlO2 coating layer and gradient doping of Al. This architecture not only mitigates side reactions, but also improves the Li+ migration kinetics on the LCO surface. Meanwhile, gradient doping of Al inhibited the severe lattice distortion caused by the irreversible phase transition of O3−H1−3−O1, thereby enhanced the electrochemical stability of LCO during 4.7 V cycling. DFT calculations further revealed that our approach significantly boosts the electronic conductivity. As a result, the modified LCO exhibited an outstanding reversible capacity of 230 mAh g−1 at 4.7 V, which is approximately 28 % higher than the conventional capacity at 4.5 V. To demonstrate their practical application, our cathode structure shows improved stability in full pouch cell configuration under high operating voltage. LCO exhibited an excellent cycling stability, retaining 82.33 % after 1000 cycles at 4.5 V. This multifunctional surface modification strategy offers a viable pathway for the practical application of LCO materials, setting a new standard for the development of high‐energy‐density and long‐lasting electrode materials.
The overgrowth of surface CEI and the irreversible phase transition from H1–3 to O1 are the primary causes of LiCoO2 cathode degradation at 4.7 V. These phenomena can be significantly suppressed by employing an ultrathin, dense LiAlO2 surface coating and Al gradient doping, which enables a stable cycling of LiCoO2 at 4.7 V.