Characterizations of nickel-rich NMC lithium-ion battery cathode with varying transition metal ratios synthesized via hydroxide co-precipitation

Abstract

Cobalt content in Li-ion battery cathodes has become a major concern due to its price volatility and the limited availability of sources. Low-cobalt, Ni-rich active materials are promising candidates for next-generation cathodes because of their high capacities, and many proposed processing methods for these materials can further reduce both cost and environmental impact. However, the resulting lattice changes can lead to structural degradation and capacity fading. In this study, we report the effects of cobalt content on the crystal structure and morphology of nickel-rich Li[NixCoyMnz]O₂ (where x ≥ 0.8; x + y + z = 1) cathode materials synthesized using the hydroxide-route co-precipitation method. The synthesized cathodes were characterized through Particle Size Distribution (PSD), scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Their electrochemical properties were examined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry. Results indicate that slight variations in cobalt content did affect the synthesized cathode slightly, highlighting the potential for low-cobalt electrodes.