Effect of particle micro-structure on the electrochemical properties of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode material

Ni-rich layered material is a kind of high-capacity cathode to meet the requirement of electric vehicles. As for the typical LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 material, the particle formation is significant for electrochemical properties of the cathode. In this work, the structure, morphology, and electrochemical performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 secondary particles and single crystals were systematically studied. A lower Ni2+/Ni3+ molar ratio of 0.66 and a lower residual alkali content of 0.228wt% were achieved on the surface of the single crystals. In addition, the single crystals showed a discharge capacity of 191.6 mAh/g at 0.2 C (∼12 mAh/g lower than that of the secondary particles) and enhanced the electrochemical stability, especially when cycled at 50°C and in a wider electrochemical window (between 3.0 and 4.4 V vs. Li+/Li). The LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 secondary particles were suitable for applications requiring high specific capacity, whereas single crystals exhibited better stability, indicating that they are more suitable for use in long life requested devices.