Cation doping for enhanced layer spacing and electrochemical performance in Li-rich Mn-based lithium-ion cathode materials

Lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials offer promising research avenues owing to their high capacity. This study delved into the impact of cation doping on Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2(LNCMO). A range of layered Li1.2BXNi0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 (LNCMOxB, B = Ca, Na, Al) cathode materials were produced utilizing calcium, sodium, and aluminum chloride as dopants. Combining these elements with the lithium-rich materials improves the capacity retention of the positive electrode and mitigates voltage decay. X-ray diffraction analysis, Rietveld structural refinement, SEM, and XPS verified the inclusion of Ca, Na, and Al in the synthesized samples. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the LNCMO-0.01Na sample, possessing the largest dopant radius, exhibited favorable cyclic stability at 0.2C. Conversely, the LNCMO-0.01Al sample, featuring the smallest doped cation radius, demonstrated superior rate performance. Specifically, after 30 cycles at varying rates, the capacity reached 170 mAh·g−1 at 0.2C. The LNCMO-0.007Ca sample exhibited the highest residual capacity, maintaining 151.4 mAh·g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2C. Doping Li sites in Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 materials with appropriately sized divalent cations significantly enhances their overall electrochemical performance. This enhancement is attributed to ion doping within the Li and TM layers expediting the diffusion kinetics of Li ions, and augmenting ion and electronic conductivity. Investigating the doping modification of lithium-rich manganese-based oxide microspheres is instrumental in advancing positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, aiming for increased specific capacity and more stable material structures.