Electrolytes for
LCO||Graphite
cells
Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) is a cathode material with a layered structure that was used in the first commercial LIBs and is still used today for electronic devices and mobile applications. The LCO cathode is usually combined with a graphite anode. Due to ethical concerns related to cobalt mining, the high cost of cobalt and the low thermal stability of LCO, alternative cathode materials with a layered structure and lower Co content, such as NMCs, are favored for a variety of applications.
Challenge
The practical usable capacity of LCO and similar layered oxides depends on the degree of delithiation, which can be controlled via the upper cut-off potential. One approach to increase the energy density of LIBs is to raise the upper cut-off voltage. However, increasing the cut-off voltage also leads to an increase in undesirable side reactions, e.g. electrolyte decomposition or transition metal dissolution.
The Solution
Formation: 2 cycles 0.1C CCCV charge / 0.1C CC discharge
Cycling rate: 0.5C CCCV charge / 0.5C CC discharge
Temperature: 40 °C
Voltage range: 4.4 – 2.8 V
