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Title: High voltage stability of LiCoO2 particles with a nano-scale Lipon coating

Journal Article · · Electrochimica Acta

For high-voltage cycling of rechargeable Li batteries, a nano-scale amorphous Li-ion conductor, lithium phosphorus oxynitride (Lipon), has been coated on surfaces of LiCoO{sub 2} particles by combining a RF-magnetron sputtering technique and mechanical agitation of LiCoO{sub 2} powders. LiCoO{sub 2} particles coated with 0.36 wt% ({approx}1 nm thick) of the amorphous Lipon, retain 90% of their original capacity compared to non-coated cathode materials that retain only 65% of their original capacity after more than 40 cycles in the 3.0-4.4 V range with a standard carbonate electrolyte. The reason for the better high-voltage cycling behavior is attributed to reduction in the side reactions that cause increase of the cell resistance during cycling. Further, Lipon coated particles are not damaged, whereas uncoated particles are badly cracked after cycling. Extending the charge of Lipon-coated LiCoO{sub 2} to higher voltage enhances the specific capacity, but more importantly the Lipon-coated material is also more stable and tolerant of high voltage excursions. A drawback of Lipon coating, particularly as thicker films are applied to cathode powders, is the increased electronic resistance that reduces the power performance.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Shared Research Equipment Collaborative Research Center
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1018960
Journal Information:
Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 56, Issue 19; ISSN 0013-4686
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English