Lyotropic Polymer Liquid Crystal Coating: Enabling Lamellar Ion-Conduction Pathways for Superior C-Rate Performance in NCM523 Cathodes

High C-rate capability and energy-density stability are crucial for advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, these two characteristics typically conflict in conventional systems. Herein, a lyotropic polymer liquid crystal (LPLC)-based coating was applied to the surface of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523) cathode to construct a highly ion-conductive artificial cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) layer, aiming to supersede traditional CEIs for LIBs. The coating material, composed of an amphiphilic lithium-substituted alkyl-sulfonated polyimide (ASPI-Li) and an appropriate amount of organic liquid electrolyte, forms nanoscale ion conduction channels that act as an artificial CEI layer, providing enhanced local Li-ion activity at the NCM523 surface. The ion-conduction channels, regulated by the layered structure within the ASPI-Li coating layer, significantly accelerated ion-diffusion kinetics at the electrode/electrolyte interface, thereby delivering superior C-rate capability at ambient temperatures compared with conventional LIB systems. This work, guided by molecular design, provides insights into the development of next-generation artificial CEI layers for efficient and sustainable energy-storage systems.