Intragranular cracking as a critical barrier for high-voltage usage of layer-structured cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract LiNi 1/3 Mn 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 -layered cathode is often fabricated in the form of secondary particles, consisting of densely packed primary particles. This offers advantages for high energy density and alleviation of cathode side reactions/corrosions, but introduces drawbacks such as intergranular cracking. Here, we report unexpected observations on the nucleation and growth of intragranular cracks in a commercial LiNi 1/3 Mn 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 cathode by using advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy. We find the formation of the intragranular cracks is directly associated with high-voltage cycling, an electrochemically driven and diffusion-controlled process. The intragranular cracks are noticed…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: -AC02-05CH11231, 6951379, Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231, 05CH11231, No. DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC05, DE-AC05-76RLO1830, DE-AC02-
• B
  Battelle

  Awards: DE-AC05-76RLO1830, DE-AC05
• DO
  Division of Materials Research
• BA
  Biological and Environmental Research

  Awards: 05CH11231, No. DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC05-76RLO1830, Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231
• PN
  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC05-76RLO1830