Different thermal degradation mechanisms: Role of aluminum in Ni-rich layered cathode materials

Despite increasing demands for higher energy density cathode materials, they can be bigger threats unless thermal stability is guaranteed. Herein, the thermal stability of LixNi0.835Co0.15Al0.015O2 (NCA83) and LixNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA80) is compared by using in-situ transmission electron microscopy. Analysis demonstrates that NCA83 and NCA80 degrade thermally by distinct mechanisms. Al prevents the transition to CoO2-type O1 phase by suppressing O-slab gliding by residual Li. At 67% SOC, in the sub-surface area, thermal degradation of NCA80 is mainly due to reduction of Ni, whereas thermal degradation of NCA83 is a result of concurrent reduction of Ni and Co. The difference indicates that NCA83 has both earlier transition to the rock salt structure and poorer thermal stability than NCA80. This study presents a protocol to properly evaluate new high energy density cathode materials, and provides important insights into the thermal degradation mechanism of Ni-based layered oxides.