A highly promising high-nickel low-cobalt lithium layered oxide cathode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

Reducing cobalt dependency has attracted great interest for lithium batteries manufacturing due to limited cobalt resources and high prices. A highly promising LiNi0.6Co0.05Mn0.35O2 (NCM60535) high-nickel low cobalt lithium layered oxide cathode material is successfully prepared by systematically examining the two key synthesis conditions of pH and annealing temperature. The obtained materials exhibit a uniform size distribution, good spherical morphology, clear structure, and homogeneous element distribution. NCM60535 shows competitive electrochemical properties: when compared with the LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2, with a higher output specific capacity and cycling stability at 4.3 V low voltage; when compared with the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, with a comparable discharge capacity but relatively poor cycling stability at 4.5 V high voltage. A new type of electrolyte that combines high lithium salt concentration, EC-free solvent system, and VC and LiPO2F2 functional additives is designed and greatly improves the electrochemical properties of the material under high voltage. Moreover, it also delivers superior electrochemical properties in high voltage lithium full battery (270 Wh Kg-1). And we suggest that NCM60535 is expected to become a substitute for the currently widely commercialized LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NCM333), LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523), LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622), and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) due to its relatively low production cost and competitive electrochemical properties.

Structural and Electrochemical Properties of Low-Cobalt-Content LiNi0.6+xCo0.2-xMn0.2O2 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The layered oxides LiNi0.6+xCo0.2-xMn0.2O2 are promising cathode materials for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their moderate energy densities and structure stabilities. In this study, we systematically investigate the effects of substitution of Co by Ni on the structures, morphologies, and electrochemical properties of LiNi0.6+xCo0.2-xMn0.2O2 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1). The physical characteristics of these materials are studied by particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties are investigated by charge-discharge cycling, galvanostatic intermittent titration, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. As the Co content decreases and the Ni content increases, the discharge capacity and voltage platform are slightly improved, while the initial efficiency, cycling performance, rate capability, and thermal stability gradually decrease. The decreased kinetic performance is attributed to the increased degree of cation mixing and resistance, which decreases the Li+ diffusivity. Moreover, the activation energy gradually increases with the decrease in the Co content, which decreases the low-temperature performance. Considering its cost, energy density, cycling lifetime, kinetic performance, and safety properties, LiNi0.65Co0.15Mn0.2O2 is a promising cathode candidate for use in LIBs.