Composition and Growth Behavior of the Surface and Electrolyte Decomposition Layer of/on a Commercial Lithium Ion Battery LixNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 Cathode Determined by Sputter Depth Profile X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

A detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of the surface and electrolyte decomposition layer of a LixNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC) cathode from commercial NMC/graphite cells by intense sputter depth profiling (SDP) using a polyatomic ion gun is provided. Cathodes of a cell after electrochemical formation and a cell at a state of initial capacity (SOIC) of 80%, which was reached after 2500 full cycles at 30 degrees C, are investigated.