Batteries, Vol. 11, Pages 254: Design Principles and Engineering Strategies for Stabilizing Ni-Rich Layered Oxides in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Batteries doi: 10.3390/batteries11070254

Authors:
Alain Mauger
Christian M. Julien

Nickel-rich layered oxides such as LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC), LiNixCoyAlzO2 (NCA), and LiNixMnyCozAl(1–x–y–z)O2 (NMCA), where x ≥ 0.6, have emerged as key cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries due to their high operating voltage and superior energy density. These materials, characterized by low cobalt content, offer a promising path toward sustainable and cost-effective energy storage solutions. However, their electrochemical performance remains below theoretical expectations, primarily due to challenges related to structural instability, limited thermal safety, and suboptimal cycle life. Intensive research efforts have been devoted to addressing these issues, resulting in substantial performance improvements and enabling the development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries with higher nickel content and reduced cobalt dependency. In this review, we present recent advances in material design and engineering strategies to overcome the problems limiting their electrochemical performance (cation mixing, phase stability, oxygen release, microcracks during cycling). These strategies include synthesis methods to optimize the morphology (size of the particles, core–shell and gradient structures), surface modifications of the Ni-rich particles, and doping. A detailed comparison between these strategies and the synergetic effects of their combination is presented. We also highlight the synergistic role of compatible lithium salts and electrolytes in achieving state-of-the-art nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries.

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Alain Mauger www.mdpi.com