title: Hierarchical Porous LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 Nano-/Micro Spherical Cathode Material: Minimized Cation Mixing and Improved Li(+) Mobility for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance.
abstract: Although being considered as one of the most promising cathode materials for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NCM) is currently limited by its poor rate performance and cycle stability resulting from the thermodynamically favorable Li(+)/Ni(2+) cation mixing which depresses the Li(+) mobility. In this study, we developed a two-step method using fluffy MnO2 as template to prepare hierarchical porous nano-/microsphere NCM (PNM-NCM). Specifically, PNM-NCM microspheres achieves a high reversible specific capacity of 207.7 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C with excellent rate capability (163.6 and 148.9 mAh g(-1) at 1 C and 2 C), and the reversible capacity retention can be well-maintained as high as 90.3% after 50 cycles. This excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to unique hierarchical porous nano-/microsphere structure which can increase the contact area with electrolyte, shorten Li(+) diffusion path and thus improve the Li(+) mobility. Moreover, as revealed by XRD Rietveld refinement analysis, a negligible cation mixing (1.9%) and high crystallinity with a well-formed layered structure also contribute to the enhanced C-rates performance and cycle stability. On the basis of our study, an effective strategy can be established to reveal the fundamental relationship between the structure/chemistry of these materials and their properties.
authors.affiliation: Energy Research Institute (ERI@N), Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Research Techno Plaza, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637553, Singapore.|Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Energy Research Institute (ERI@N), Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Research Techno Plaza, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637553, Singapore.|Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Dongliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Energy Research Institute (ERI@N), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637553, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baikie
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Linyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore.|School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tze Chien
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sum
authors.affiliation: Energy Research Institute (ERI@N), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637553, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jianyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, 637371, Singapore.|Energy Research Institute (ERI@N), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637553, Singapore.
authors.forename: Zexiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen