Cathode material LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2/LaPO4 with high electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries

In order to enhance the electrochemical properties of nickel-rich LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode material, lithium-ion conductor shell was coated on the surface of the material through a facile wet chemical route. The morphologies, structures and chemical compositions of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The result shows that the particle surface was uniformly coated by a very thin LaPO4 layer. Electrochemical measurements proved that the LaPO4-coated sample exhibited excellent cycling performance. The capacity retention of LaPO4-coated sample was 91.2% at 1 C after 100 cycles, which was higher compared with that of the pristine sample (76.4%). Moreover, the rate performance of the coated sample was greatly enhanced especially at 2, 5 and 10 C rate. The LaPO4-coated sample showed smaller charge transfer resistance and higher diffusion coefficient of lithium ions compared with those of the pristine sample.