Lattice doping regulated interfacial reactions in cathode for enhanced cycling stability

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Interfacial reactions between electrodes and electrolytes significantly impact rechargeable battery performance.
• Current methods to control these reactions include cathode coatings or electrolyte modification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the modification of interfacial reactions through dilute lattice doping for enhanced battery properties.
• To demonstrate a general principle of how trace dopants influence solid-liquid interfacial reactions.

Main Methods:

• Atomic level imaging
• Spectroscopic analysis
• Density functional theory (DFT) calculations

Main Results:

• Aluminum dopants in lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide enrich the surface and form aluminum oxide nano-islands.
• The aluminum-concentrated surface lowers transition metal redox energy levels.
• A stable cathode-electrolyte interphase is promoted.

Conclusions:

• Dilute lattice doping is an effective strategy to control interfacial reactions in rechargeable batteries.
• Surface enrichment of dopants plays a crucial role in enhancing battery performance.
• This study presents a novel principle for optimizing battery interfaces.