Advances in the Application of Lithium-Rich Oxide Materials in Lithium-ion Battery Cathodes

Abstract

With the rapid growth of global energy demand and the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the development of efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly energy storage systems has become one of the hotspots in today's science and technology fields. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have shown great potential for application in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and large-scale energy storage due to their high energy density, low self-discharge rate, and long cycle life. However, with the continuous technological advancement and expanding market, the requirements for the performance of LIBs are increasing, especially in terms of energy density and cycle stability. Li-rich oxides as cathode materials for Li-ion batteries are not only capable of releasing a large amount of lithium ions during charging, providing a much higher specific capacity than traditional cathode materials, but also have less reactive oxygen involved in the reaction in their layered structure, which helps to maintain the cycling stability and average operating voltage of the materials, thus extending the service life of the batteries and improving the overall performance. In this paper, we first explore the effects of the layered and disordered structures in the crystal structure of Li-rich oxides on the performance of LIBs. Then, the paper summarizes the problems of Li-rich oxides. Finally, two methods, ion doping, and surface capping, are proposed to improve the performance of Li-rich oxides.