Hierarchical LiNixCoyO2 mesostructures as high-performance cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

Abstract Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) with enhanced performance to commercial ones are urgently demanded in portable electric devices. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of a dominant commercial cathode material (LiCoO 2 ) by constructing 3D hierarchical LiNi x Co y O 2 (h-LNCO). The h-LNCO presents porous spherical-shaped morphology at mesoscale while comprises interconnected primary nanoparticles at nanoscale. Such a unique morphology endows the h-LNCO with porous structure for easy penetration of electrolyte, relatively small size of primary particles with short Li + ions diffusion length and abundant exposed surface in favor of Li + intercalation/deintercalation. The synergism of these merits makes the h-LNCO exhibit superior electrochemical properties with high capacity, superior cyclability and rate capability, much better than the solid granular LNCO counterparts and commercial LiCoO 2 . This strategy of constructing porous hierarchical mesostructures could be extended to other electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage.