Gradient Li-rich oxide cathode particles immunized against oxygen release by a molten salt treatment

Lithium-rich transition metal oxide (Li1+XM1−XO2) cathodes have high energy density above 900 Wh kg−1 due to hybrid anion- and cation-redox (HACR) contributions, but critical issues such as oxygen release and voltage decay during cycling have prevented their application for years. Here we show that a molten molybdate-assisted LiO extraction at 700 °C creates lattice-coherent but depth (r)-dependent Li1+X(r)M1−X(r)O2 particles with a Li-rich (X ≈ 0.2) interior, a Li-poor (X ≈ −0.05) surface and a continuous gradient in between. The gradient Li-rich single crystals eliminate the oxygen release to the electrolyte and, importantly, still allow stable oxygen redox contributions within. Both the metal valence states and the crystal structure are well maintained during cycling. The gradient HACR cathode displays a specific density of 843 Wh kg−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2C and 808 Wh kg−1 after 100 cycles at 1C, with very little oxygen release and consumption of electrolyte. This high-temperature immunization treatment can be generalized to leach other elements to avoid unexpected surface reactions in batteries. Critical issues such as oxygen release during battery cycling plague the development of high-energy Li-rich oxide cathodes. Here the authors report a Li-gradient structure of the oxides, obtained by a selective LiO leaching process via a molten salt treatment, displaying virtually zero oxygen loss.