New design for cathode particles yields ultra-stable cathodes
Scientific Achievement
A new design has been developed for LiNixMnyCozO2 cathodes, which remain ultra-stable during extended cycling. It consists of particles with an architecture ranging from ordered to disordered plus a concentration gradient involving the transition metals.
Significance and Impact
This breakthrough “dual-gradient” design increases cathode capacity, stability and lifetime while reducing costs. It can overcome voltage ceilings imposed by existing cathodes in Li-ion batteries and notably improves thermal stability. It is expected to inspire future efforts to develop multifunctional materials for next-generation batteries.
Research Details
- The gradient structure ordering was confirmed at CNM by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled with scanning electron nanodiffraction mapping and electron energy loss spectroscopy.
About Argonne’s Center for Nanoscale Materials
The Center for Nanoscale Materials is one of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers, premier national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale supported by the DOE Office of Science. Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The NSRCs are located at DOE’s Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. For more information about the DOE NSRCs, please visit https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance.
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