Separating Li-ion and electron conduction pathways to realize robust cathode interfaces

Abstract

Cathode interfacial electron/Li-ion transportation is equally important to realize high-rate performance and high cycling stability of lithium-ion batteries; thus, cathode surface engineering and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) regulation have gained tremendous research interest. Herein, to balance and optimize the interfacial electron/Li-ion transfer, we propose a novel design strategy to construct the respective conduction pathway for interfacial electron transfer or Li-ion transfer, which is realized by anchoring inert and electron-conductive island particles on an LiCoO2 particle surface. Such an interfacial design can realize stable interfacial electron conductivity through the CEI-free island particles, thereby significantly enhancing the overall interfacial charge transfer kinetics and cycling stability. Furthermore, combining the surface Ti-doping to form a thin and stable CEI layer for fast Li-ion transfer, this work demonstrates that surface doping and island particle anchoring can work synergistically to achieve high-rate and high-stability cycling performance. Full cell cycling stability reaches 97% at a rate of 2C after 200 cycles. The proposed interfacial design strategy and our successful demonstration together emphasize that maintaining high interfacial conductivity for electrons and Li-ions is equally important to realize a robust cathode interface.

Graphical abstract: Separating Li-ion and electron conduction pathways to realize robust cathode interfaces

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 May 2025
Accepted
18 Jul 2025
First published
19 Jul 2025

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, Advance Article

Separating Li-ion and electron conduction pathways to realize robust cathode interfaces

J. Qu, B. Wang, J. Li, X. Wei, M. Sui and P. Yan, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D5TA04002G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements