Compositionally complex doping for zero-strain zero-cobalt layered cathodes

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

  • Rui Zhang
  • Chunyang Wang
  • Peichao Zou
  • Ruoqian Lin
  • Lu Ma
  • Liang Yin
  • Tianyi Li
  • Wenqian Xu
  • Hao Jia
  • Qiuyan Li
  • Sami Sainio
  • Kim Kisslinger
  • Stephen E. Trask
  • Steven N. Ehrlich
  • Yang Yang
  • Andrew M. Kiss
  • Mingyuan Ge
  • Bryant J. Polzin
  • Sang Jun Lee
  • Wu Xu
  • Huolin L. Xin

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)67-73
Journal / PublicationNature
Volume610
Issue number7930
Online published21 Sept 2022
Publication statusPublished - 6 Oct 2022
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

The high volatility of the price of cobalt and the geopolitical limitations of cobalt mining have made the elimination of Co a pressing need for the automotive industry1. Owing to their high energy density and low-cost advantages, high-Ni and low-Co or Co-free (zero-Co) layered cathodes have become the most promising cathodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries2,3. However, current high-Ni cathode materials, without exception, suffer severely from their intrinsic thermal and chemo-mechanical instabilities and insufficient cycle life. Here, by using a new compositionally complex (high-entropy) doping strategy, we successfully fabricate a high-Ni, zero-Co layered cathode that has extremely high thermal and cycling stability. Combining X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and nanotomography, we find that the cathode exhibits nearly zero volumetric change over a wide electrochemical window, resulting in greatly reduced lattice defects and local strain-induced cracks. In-situ heating experiments reveal that the thermal stability of the new cathode is significantly improved, reaching the level of the ultra-stable NMC-532. Owing to the considerably increased thermal stability and the zero volumetric change, it exhibits greatly improved capacity retention. This work, by resolving the long-standing safety and stability concerns for high-Ni, zero-Co cathode materials, offers a commercially viable cathode for safe, long-life lithium-ion batteries and a universal strategy for suppressing strain and phase transformation in intercalation electrodes.

Citation Format(s)

Compositionally complex doping for zero-strain zero-cobalt layered cathodes. / Zhang, Rui; Wang, Chunyang; Zou, Peichao et al.
In: Nature, Vol. 610, No. 7930, 06.10.2022, p. 67-73.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review