Reactive boride infusion stabilizes Ni-rich cathodes for lithium-ion batteries

Engineered polycrystalline electrodes are critical to the cycling stability and safety of lithium-ion batteries, yet it is challenging construct high-quality coatings at both primary- secondary-particle levels. Here we present a room-temperature synthesis route achieve full surface coverage secondary particles facile infusion into grain boundaries, thus offer complete ‘coating-plus-infusion’ strategy. Cobalt boride metallic glass was successfully applied Ni-rich layered cathode LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2. It dramatically improved rate capability stability, including under high-discharge-rate elevated-temperature conditions in pouch full-cells. The superior performance originates from simultaneous suppression microstructural degradation intergranular cracking side reactions with electrolyte. Atomistic simulations identified role strong selective interfacial bonding, which offers not only large chemical driving force ensure uniform reactive wetting infusion, but also lowers surface/interface oxygen activity, contributes exceptional mechanical electrochemical stabilities infused electrode. Coating commonly used improve electrode maintain during cycling. authors coating-and-infusion approach on cathodes that effectively retards stress corrosion cracking.