CePO4 coating for elevating cycle life and rate performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

Layered LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM) is regarded as a highly promising cathode material for the upcoming generation of lithium-ion batteries, delivering a high energy density. Yet, severe Li⁺/Ni²⁺ cationic mixing, along with the detrimental reactions occurring at the interface between active material and the electrolyte, impede its further progress in battery technology. To solve these issues, NCM with different contents of CePO₄ was synthesized via wet chemistry and high-temperature solid-phase method. The CePO₄ coating effectively suppresses side reactions, mitigates cation mixing, and promotes the transport and charge transfer of Li⁺. The results demonstrate that cycle life and rate performance of CePO₄-coated NCM have been greatly improved compared to pristine NCM. The average capacity fade per cycle of CP-NCM2 for 100 cycles at 1C is 0.172% compared to 0.361% of NCM. Even at 5C, its discharge capacity reaches 118.0 mAh g⁻¹ compared to 82.6 mAh g⁻¹ of NCM. Hence, the CePO₄ coating serves as an effective method to enhance the electrochemical properties of NCM.