Electrochemical modeling and simulation of the improved high-rate discharging performance of through-holed LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathodes prepared with a picosecond pulsed laser for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

In previous papers, we reported that the through-holing of lithium iron phosphate cathodes for lithium-ion batteries with a picosecond pulsed laser efficiently improved the high-rate performance. The enhancement of the Li+ ion transfer was caused by the increase in the pathway of the Li+ ions to/from the lithium metal oxide LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC) particle surfaces through the sidewall in the through-holes, and this potentially caused the improvement in the high-rate performance. To clarify our deduction, the structural parameters that caused similar experimental results and calculated values were determined by changing the structural parameters of the NMC layer in the through-holed cathodes. The consideration of the structural parameter distribution around a through-hole lead to an agreement between the experimental data and calculated values. From the structural parameters determined, the through-holed structure had negative factors caused by laser irradiation and disrupted the electronically conductive paths within the NMC layer. However, the high-rate performance improvement could be achieved due to the increased area accessible to lithium ions in the through-holes.