Nickel-rich layered cathode LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NCM811) is the most promising cathode material due to its high specific capacity and lower cost than lithium cobalt oxides. However, NCM811 suffers from structural instability and capacity degradation during charge−discharge cycles. Herein, we report a strategy to construct a conductive network by employing a holistic Ge coating, which interconnects Mg-doped NCM811 particles. Dopant Mg ions, serving as a "pillar" in the Li slab of NCM811, substantially enhance the structural reversibility. The Ge particles are not only coated on the electrode surface but also enter into the electrode pores to form a multidimensional conductive structure, which improves the conductivity of the electrode and slows down the interface side reaction, thus minimizing the irreversible loss of NCM811 upon long cycling. The modified NCM811 electrode delivers a high discharge capacity (∼204 mAh g −1 at 0.1C), excellent rate performance (∼155 mAh g −1 at 10C), and high capacity retention (83% after 200 cycles) even at 4.4 V. Additionally, a cylindrical full battery with graphite/modified NCM811 undergoes 1000 cycles with 86% capacity retention at 2C.

Although Ni-rich layered materials with the general formula LiNi1-x-yCoxMnyO2 (0 < x, y < 1, NCM) hold great promise as high-energy-density cathodes in commercial lithium-ion batteries, their practical application is greatly hampered by poor cyclability and safety. Herein, a LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622) cathode modified with a surface self-assembling LiLaO2 coating and subsurface La pillars demonstrates stabilized cycling at 4.6 V. The LiLaO2-coated NCM622 benefits from the suppression of interfacial side reactions, which relieves the layer-to-rock salt phase transformation and therefore improves the capacity retention under high voltages. Moreover, the La dopant, as a pillar in the NCM622 lattice, plays a dual role in expanding the c lattice parameter to enhance the Li-ion diffusion capability, as well as suppressing Ni antisite defect formation upon cycling. Consequently, the dual-modified NCM622 cathode exhibits an initial Coulombic efficiency of over 85% and a high capacity of over 200 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C. A specific capacity of 188 mAh g-1 with a capacity retention of 76% is achieved at 1 C after 200 cycles within a voltage range of 3.0-4.6 V. These findings lay a solid foundation for the materials design and performance optimization of high-energy-density cathodes for Li-ion batteries.

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