The Particle Size Distribution of Ni-Rich NMC Particles Determines Their Electrochemical Performance at Cylindrical Li-Ion Battery Cells

Abstract

Developing lithium-ion batteries with high stability and increased energy density is crucial. In this study, we examined two potential cathode materials, LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC80) and LiNi0.9Mn0.05Co0.05O2 (NMC90), for use in commercial lithium-ion batteries. We utilized the 18650-cylindrical cell configuration to investigate their performance. While higher Ni mole ratios typically result in high energy, they also lead to poor stability. Our findings revealed that the uniformity of NMC particles is more critical than the Ni content. As a result, NMC90 outperformed NMC80 in terms of energy density, stability, and rate capability. These results suggest that controlling the particle size of Ni-rich layered oxide material will be crucial for further developing high-performance Li-ion batteries.