The effect of gradient boracic polyanion-doping on structure, morphology, and cycling performance of Ni-rich LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 cathode material

A gradient boracic polyanion-doping method is applied to Ni-rich LiNi0.8Co0.015Al0.05O2 (NCA) cathode material in this study to suppress the capacity/potential fade during charge-discharge cycling. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results show that all samples present spherical morphology and the secondary particle size increases with increasing boron content. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results demonstrate that boracic polyanions are successfully introduced into the bulk material and more enriched in the outer layer. XPS analysis further reveals that the valence state of Ni3+ is partly reduced to Ni2+ at the surface due to the incorporation of boracic polyanions. From the electrochemical measurements, B0.015-NCA electrode exhibits excellent cycling performance, even at high potential and elevated temperature. Moreover, the SEM images illustrate the presence of cracks and a thick SEI layer on pristine particles after 100 cycles at high temperature, while the B0.015-NCA particles show an intact structure and thin SEI layer. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirms that the boracic polyanion doping could hinder the impedance increase during cycling at elevated temperature. These results clearly indicate that the gradient boracic polyanion-doping contributes to the remarkable enhancement of structure stability and cycling performance of NCA.