Low-Temperature Ion Exchange Synthesis of Layered LiNiO2 Single Crystals with High Ordering

Layered Ni-rich oxide cathode materials are being explored in an effort to boost the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, especially for automotive applications. Among them, the ternary-phase LiNiO2 (LNO) is a promising candidate but brings along various issues, such as poor structural stability. The material is prone to disordering (Li off-stoichiometry) when prepared by conventional solid-state synthesis, leading to the presence of Ni2+ in the Li layer. These point defects negatively affect the utilization of the Li inventory, thereby limiting the practical specific capacity. In this work, we report on a two-step synthesis approach that avoids the formation of nickel substitutional defects. First, NaNiO2 (NNO) is prepared, showing no such defects due to larger differences in ionic radii between Ni2+/Ni3+ and Na+. NNO is then subjected to Na+/Li+ exchange under mild conditions. In so doing, monolithic LNO particles free of NiLi• defects can be produced at relatively low temperatures. Notably, this route allows for tailoring of the grain size, a strategy that may be used to gain insights into the structure–size–property relations in single-crystalline LNO.