Flash Synthesis of High-Performance Sub-Micron Low-Disorder LiNixCoyAlzO2 Cathode Single Crystals

Thomas E. Ashton; Shutao Wang; Michael J. Johnson; Callum Chisnall; Matthew G. Tucker; Helen Playford; Alexander J.E. Rettie; Jiacheng Wang; Yang Xu; Jawwad A. Darr

doi:10.1002/aesr.202500149

Flash Synthesis of High-Performance Sub-Micron Low-Disorder LiNi_xCo_yAl_zO₂ Cathode Single Crystals

Thomas E. Ashton
, Shutao Wang
, Michael J. Johnson
, Callum Chisnall
, Matthew G. Tucker
, Helen Playford
, Alexander J.E. Rettie
, Jiacheng Wang
, Yang Xu
, Jawwad A. Darr

Neutron Scattering Division

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

A rapid solid-state flash heat and quench (FHQ) synthesis approach has been used to facilitate the rapid formation of layered NCA Li-ion cathodes with low structural defects. LiNi_xCo_yAl_zO₂ (NCA) materials prepared by FHQ reveal impressive gravimetric capacity at C/10 and 10C discharge rates (195 and 150 mAh g⁻¹, respectively) after a few minutes of heating a co-precipitate mixture with LiOH, providing >95% reduction in energy needed for heat-treatment versus conventional solid state synthesis routes. Combined X-ray diffraction, neutron scattering with pair-distribution-function analysis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy for a range of heat-treated samples are used to identify the point at which Ni²⁺−Li⁺ antisite defects are minimized in these materials, which is critical to their electrochemical performance.

Original language	English
Journal	Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202500149
State	Accepted/In press - 2025

Funding

T.E.A. and J.A.D. would like the Faraday Institution for funding a 1‐year Faraday Seed Project “Scale‐up manufacturing of next generation ultra‐high‐power Li‐ion cathodes”. J.W., Y.X., and J.A.D. would additionally like to thank the UKRI and the Faraday Institution for funding the CATMAT project. M.J.J. and A.J.E.R. acknowledge HORIBA‐Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA), University College London (UCL), and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/R513143/1) for a Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE) studentship.

Keywords

LiNiCoAlO
battery
cathode
flash synthesis
neutron

Access to Document

10.1002/aesr.202500149

Cite this

@article{700e6e9ace3b4330a637e1301dae4bf5,

title = "Flash Synthesis of High-Performance Sub-Micron Low-Disorder LiNixCoyAlzO2 Cathode Single Crystals",

abstract = "A rapid solid-state flash heat and quench (FHQ) synthesis approach has been used to facilitate the rapid formation of layered NCA Li-ion cathodes with low structural defects. LiNixCoyAlzO2 (NCA) materials prepared by FHQ reveal impressive gravimetric capacity at C/10 and 10C discharge rates (195 and 150 mAh g−1, respectively) after a few minutes of heating a co-precipitate mixture with LiOH, providing >95\% reduction in energy needed for heat-treatment versus conventional solid state synthesis routes. Combined X-ray diffraction, neutron scattering with pair-distribution-function analysis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy for a range of heat-treated samples are used to identify the point at which Ni2+−Li+ antisite defects are minimized in these materials, which is critical to their electrochemical performance.",

keywords = "LiNiCoAlO, battery, cathode, flash synthesis, neutron",

author = "Ashton, \{Thomas E.\} and Shutao Wang and Johnson, \{Michael J.\} and Callum Chisnall and Tucker, \{Matthew G.\} and Helen Playford and Rettie, \{Alexander J.E.\} and Jiacheng Wang and Yang Xu and Darr, \{Jawwad A.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1002/aesr.202500149",

language = "English",

journal = "Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research",

issn = "2699-9412",

publisher = "Wiley Open Access",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Flash Synthesis of High-Performance Sub-Micron Low-Disorder LiNixCoyAlzO2 Cathode Single Crystals

AU - Ashton, Thomas E.

AU - Wang, Shutao

AU - Johnson, Michael J.

AU - Chisnall, Callum

AU - Tucker, Matthew G.

AU - Playford, Helen

AU - Rettie, Alexander J.E.

AU - Wang, Jiacheng

AU - Xu, Yang

AU - Darr, Jawwad A.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - A rapid solid-state flash heat and quench (FHQ) synthesis approach has been used to facilitate the rapid formation of layered NCA Li-ion cathodes with low structural defects. LiNixCoyAlzO2 (NCA) materials prepared by FHQ reveal impressive gravimetric capacity at C/10 and 10C discharge rates (195 and 150 mAh g−1, respectively) after a few minutes of heating a co-precipitate mixture with LiOH, providing >95% reduction in energy needed for heat-treatment versus conventional solid state synthesis routes. Combined X-ray diffraction, neutron scattering with pair-distribution-function analysis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy for a range of heat-treated samples are used to identify the point at which Ni2+−Li+ antisite defects are minimized in these materials, which is critical to their electrochemical performance.

AB - A rapid solid-state flash heat and quench (FHQ) synthesis approach has been used to facilitate the rapid formation of layered NCA Li-ion cathodes with low structural defects. LiNixCoyAlzO2 (NCA) materials prepared by FHQ reveal impressive gravimetric capacity at C/10 and 10C discharge rates (195 and 150 mAh g−1, respectively) after a few minutes of heating a co-precipitate mixture with LiOH, providing >95% reduction in energy needed for heat-treatment versus conventional solid state synthesis routes. Combined X-ray diffraction, neutron scattering with pair-distribution-function analysis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy for a range of heat-treated samples are used to identify the point at which Ni2+−Li+ antisite defects are minimized in these materials, which is critical to their electrochemical performance.

KW - LiNiCoAlO

KW - battery

KW - cathode

KW - flash synthesis

KW - neutron

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016616476

U2 - 10.1002/aesr.202500149

DO - 10.1002/aesr.202500149

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105016616476

SN - 2699-9412

JO - Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research

JF - Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research

ER -