Micro‐Doping of Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Materials ‐ A Performance and Sustainability Case Study of Lithium Nickel Oxide

TL;DR

This study evaluates micro-doping strategies for lithium nickel oxide battery cathodes to improve performance while considering cost and sustainability.

Contribution

The paper introduces a framework for selecting micro-dopants that balance electrochemical performance with affordability and supply risk.

Findings

Tungsten, niobium, and zirconium doped materials showed good performance but high costs and supply risks.

A lithium excess sulfate doped material offered the best balance of performance and sustainability.

The study highlights trade-offs between performance metrics and sustainability considerations.

Abstract

High‐nickel lithium‐ion battery cathode materials are increasingly favored for their superior energy density but face challenges related to toxicity, cost, and critical material supply. This study assesses the current state of play in commercial cathodes, and presents a screening of the literature micro‐dopants for LiNiO2 (LNO), aiming to identify excellent electrochemical performance without compromising affordability or safety. Literature examples of tungsten, niobium, and zirconium doped cathode material all showed good performance, but are considered risky for further consideration due to the high costs and increased supply risk with these materials. A lithium excess sulfate doped material exhibited the best balance of sustainability and performance, delivering improved capacity retention and low raw material cost, with the only compromise of a very slightly elevated supply risk. The study highlights the trade‐offs between performance metrics and sustainability considerations, offering a framework for more commercially viable cathode design.

This study presents a screening of the literature micro‐dopants for LiNiO2 (LNO), aiming to identify excellent electrochemical performance without compromising affordability or safety.

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