Modification of Lithium-Rich Layered Material Li1.5Ni0.17Co0.16Mn0.67O2.5 Coated with Solid Electrolyte (Li2ZrO3)

With the rising popularity of electric vehicles and the widespread deployment of energy storage power stations. The demand for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries is increasing day by day. Lithium-rich layered materials are among the most promising candidates for the cathode of next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to their high energy density, cost-effectiveness, and advantages in safety and environmental protection. However, the occurrence of side reactions between lithium-rich layered materials and electrolytes has led to poor performance in later stages, posing challenges to their commercial viability. In this study, we enhance the electrochemical performance of lithium-rich layered cathode materials by applying varying amounts of solid electrolyte Li2ZrO3 as a coating on their surfaces. By precipitating ZrO2 onto the surface of the precursor, we successfully sinter both the lithium-rich layered material and the coated material simultaneously, thereby reducing processing costs. The experimental results show that the coated material has more excellent electrochemical performance, specifically, when the coating amount is 1%, compared with the uncoated sample, the first Coulombic efficiency is improved from 56.9% to 63%, and after 500 charge/discharge cycles, the coated sample still has a capacity retention rate of more than 60%; Additionally, the Li2ZrO3 coating significantly improves the rate performance of the material, at a rate of 5 C, the specific discharge capacity improved from 102.2 mAh·g−1 for the uncoated material to 137.3 mAh·g−1. The reaction mechanism was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and AC impedance test, and the results showed that the appropriate amount of Li2ZrO3 coating can effectively reduce the side reaction between the material and the electrolyte, improve the transport performance of lithium ions in the material, and then enhance the overall electrochemical performance of the material.