Layered/Spinel Heterostructured and Hierarchical Micro/Nanostructured Li-Rich Cathode Materials with Enhanced Electrochemical Properties for Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Although holding a high capacity, Li-rich materials are far from the demand of practical market because of their inherent drawbacks, such as poor initial efficiency and rate capability. Herein, Li-rich materials of Li_1.16Mn_0.6Ni_0.12Co_0.12O₂ have been prepared via a one-step solvothermal strategy. The detail characterizations demonstrate that the as-prepared materials present morphology of nanoparticle-aggregated hierarchical microspheres and a heterostructure of layered and Li₄Mn₅O₁₂-type spinel components. Compared to materials of pure-layered structure, layered/spinel heterostructured materials exhibit simultaneously great reversible capacity (302 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 C), high initial Coulombic efficiency (94% at 0.2 C) and remarkable rate capability (193 mAh g^-1 at 10 C).