Nanostructured ligament and fiber Al-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 scaffolds to mediate cathode-electrolyte interface chemistry

Scaffold structures of electrospun aluminum-substituted lithium lanthanum zirconate Li7La3Zr2O12 (Al-LLZO) were synthesized and used as an additive in a LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 composite cathode. The scaffolds were crystalized in the cubic phase after calcination at 700 degrees C. The Al-LLZO scaffold morphology was dependent on the precursor formulation (aqueous and dimethylformamide. The aqueous precursors resulted in scaffolds of densely coalesced ligaments, whereas the dimethylformamide precursors resulted in high-aspect ratio nanofiber scaffolds. The long-term cycling stability and rate performance of the cells were found to depend on the Al-LLZO scaffold morphology. The uniformly dispersed Al-LLZO fibers resulted in a more stable cathode electrolyte interface formation through the reduced decomposition of the LiPF6 salt during cycling, resulting in a better high-rate and long-term cycling performance.

Automated summary

Electrospun Al-LLZO scaffold structures were synthesized and used as additives in a LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 composite cathode. The morphology of the Al-LLZO scaffold was found to affect the long-term cycling stability and rate performance of the cells, with uniformly dispersed fibers resulting in improved cathode electrolyte interface formation and cycling performance.