A Study on Structural and Electrochemical Properties of Overcharged Ni-based Cathode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Rechargeable Li-ion batteries(LIBs) have been widely utilized as power sources in a wide range of applications such as cellular phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, etc., and recently there have been significant efforts to expand their applications to electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles (EV, PHEV, and HEV). For the commercialization of LIBs for EV, PHEV, and HEV, the development of cathode materials with higher capacity, higher power, longer cycle life, and especially lower cost and better safety characteristics is required. Ni-rich layered cathode materials such as LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 are promising candidates to replace LiCoO2, however, LIB cells using LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 cathodes have shown a significant impedance rise and capacity fade upon aging or cycling at elevated temperatures1,2.