Zero-Strain Intercalation Cathode for Rechargeable Li-Ion Cell

No strain, big gain: the possibility of producing more-efficient rechargeable lithium batteries is offered by a zero-strain LiCoO2 cathode material produced by coating particles with thin films of high-fracture-toughness oxides. This method suppresses the changes in the lattice constant during electrochemical cycling and thereby suppresses phase transitions (see scheme). The order of capacity retention correlates with the fracture toughness of the coating thin-film oxides. The ZrO2-coated sample does not show any noticeable capacity fading over 70 electrochemical cycles.