Nanoscale Zirconium-Abundant Surface Layers on Lithium- and Manganese-Rich Layered Oxides for High-Rate Lithium-Ion Batteries

Battery performance, such as the rate capability and cycle stability of lithium transition metal oxides, is strongly correlated with the surface properties of active particles. For lithium-rich layered oxides, transition metal segregation in the initial state and migration upon cycling leads to a significant structural rearrangement, which eventually degrades the electrode performance. Here, we show that a fine-tuning of surface chemistry on the particular crystal facet can facilitate ionic diffusion and thus improve the rate capability dramatically, delivering a specific capacity of ∼110 mAh g –1 at 30C. This high rate performance is realized by creating a nanoscale zirconium-abundant rock-salt-like surface phase epitaxially grown on the layered bulk. This surface layer is spontaneously formed on the Li + -diffusive crystallographic facets during the synthesis and is also durable upon e…