Print Email Facebook Twitter Kirkendall effect-induced uniform stress distribution stabilizes nickel-rich layered oxide cathodes Title Kirkendall effect-induced uniform stress distribution stabilizes nickel-rich layered oxide cathodes Author Gao, Ziyao (Tsinghua University) Zhao, C. (Tsinghua University) Zhou, Kai (Tsinghua University) Wu, Junru (Tsinghua University) Tian, Yao (Tsinghua University) Deng, Xianming (Tsinghua University) Zhang, Lihan (Tsinghua University) Lin, Kui (Tsinghua University) Wagemaker, M. (TU Delft RST/Storage of Electrochemical Energy) Date 2024 Abstract Nickel-rich layered oxide cathodes promise ultrahigh energy density but is plagued by the mechanical failure of the secondary particle upon (de)lithiation. Existing approaches for alleviating the structural degradation could retard pulverization, yet fail to tune the stress distribution and root out the formation of cracks. Herein, we report a unique strategy to uniformize the stress distribution in secondary particle via Kirkendall effect to stabilize the core region during electrochemical cycling. Exotic metal/metalloid oxides (such as Al2O3 or SiO2) is introduced as the heterogeneous nucleation seeds for the preferential growth of the precursor. The calcination treatment afterwards generates a dopant-rich interior structure with central Kirkendall void, due to the different diffusivity between the exotic element and nickel atom. The resulting cathode material exhibits superior structural and electrochemical reversibility, thus contributing to a high specific energy density (based on cathode) of 660 Wh kg−1 after 500 cycles with a retention rate of 86%. This study suggests that uniformizing stress distribution represents a promising pathway to tackle the structural instability facing nickel-rich layered oxide cathodes. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:259572c1-f79a-4351-87d3-02efdbd20ee8 DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45373-1 ISSN 2041-1723 Source Nature Communications, 15 (1) Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2024 Ziyao Gao, C. Zhao, Kai Zhou, Junru Wu, Yao Tian, Xianming Deng, Lihan Zhang, Kui Lin, M. Wagemaker, More Authors Files PDF s41467-024-45373-1.pdf 2.58 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:259572c1-f79a-4351-87d3-02efdbd20ee8/datastream/OBJ/view