An overview of cobalt-free, nickel-containing cathodes for Li-ion batteries

The need for high-energy, low-cost batteries is projected to grow dramatically in the next decade due to electrification of the transportation market. Such demands are straining Li-ion supply chains for critical materials including lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Price instability, environment toxicity, and limits in the absolute supply lead to great concern for the continued use of cobalt. Similar to cobalt, the required grade of nickel for batteries, known as class 1 nickel, has also been declining due to geological scarcity and low incentive prices. This review summarizes alternative cathode chemistries with no cobalt and reduced nickel content for high energy Li-ion batteries targeting sustainable growth in the electric vehicle market. Further, the primary challenges associated with each material system are generally classified as being related to 4 common categories: 1) ion instability during charging, 2) poor electronic conductivity, 3) poor ionic conductivity, and 4) poor thermal stability. • Alternative cathode chemistries with no cobalt and reduced nickel content for high energy Li-ion batteries. • Four major challenges are discussed:1) ion instability during charging, 2) poor electronic conductivity, 3) poor ionic conductivity, and 4) poor thermal stability. • The capacity and energy density for cobalt-free, low-nickel content (i.e. DRX and lithium-rich cathodes) are the highest. • LiMn 0.8 Fe 0.2 PO 4 shows high potential for commercialization and substitution for LFP because of its slightly better energy density and rate performance. • The current solutions to improve the thermal stability are surface coating with fluorides, doping either at cation sites with by Al/Ti or at anion sites with fluorine, electrolyte additives and/or blending with the other composites.