High-performance single crystal Ni-rich cathode with regulated lattice and interface constructed by separated lithiation and crystallization calcination

Incorporating high valence dopants, such as W 6+ and Mo 6+ has been verified to be effective for tuning the microstructure and grain boundary of polycrystal Ni-rich cathode. However, the hindered consolidation of primary particles induced by dopants during lithiation calcination limits the utilization of those dopants to crystalize single-crystal Ni-rich cathodes with stabilized lattice and surface. Herein, high performance single crystal LiNi 0.84 Co 0.11 Mn 0.05 O 2 cathode with Al 3+ and W 6+ regulated lattice and boundary phase was construed based on commercial process with two-step calcination process containing separated lithiation and crystallization. The introduction of appropriate amount of Al 3+ in the first lithiation calcination of 6 h endows the bulk of crystalline with enhanced lattice stability, while the incorporation of W 6+ with stoichiometrical LiOH in the secondary crystallization calcination of 6 h renders uniformly distributed surface layer without hampering the growth of single-crystal. With the Al 3+ doped bulk lattice, W 6+ doped subsurface region and hetero-epitaxially grown Li 2 WO 4 , the cathode infused by two-step calcination exhibits high discharge capacity, rate performance, and cycling stability. Specifically, the modified LiNi 0.84 Co 0.11 Mn 0.05 O 2 exhibits exceptional capacity retention, maintaining 88.98% of its initial capacity after 200 cycles at a rate of 1 C within a voltage window of 2.7–4.3 V at a temperature of 25 °C in half-cell. This performance is markedly superior to the capacity retention of 72.96% observed for pristine cathode. Even when subjected to a stringent test after 200 cycles at the same rate, the modified cathode sustains an impressive capacity retention of 82.41% at an elevated cut-off voltage of 4.5 V and a temperature of 30 °C. High performance single crystal Ni-rich cathode with Al 3+ and W 6+ regulated lattice and boundary phase was construed based on commercial process with two-step calcination process containing separated lithiation and crystallization. • A general calcination strategy containing lattice stabilization by low valent dopants and hetero-epitaxially grown interface by high valent dopants was proposed based on commercial process without supernumerary treatment. • Single crystal LiNi 0.84 Co 0.11 Mn 0.05 O 2 cathode with Al 3+ and W 6+ regulated lattice and boundary phase was custom-tailored. • The modified LiNi 0.84 Co 0.11 Mn 0.05 O 2 shows a high-capacity retention rate of 88.98% after 200 cycles at 1 C in the potential range of 2.7–4.3 V and 82.41% after 200 cycles at 1 C with a high cut-off voltage of 4.5 V at 30 °C.