A leap in LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathode technology: Additive-free alternating current electrophoretic deposition for maximized pseudocapacitive contribution and rate capability

초록

Additive-free manufacturing is pivotal for understanding intrinsic electrochemical behaviors and enhancing battery performance. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the fabrication of pseudocapacitive LiNi1/3Mn1/ 3Co1/3O2 (NMC111) electrodes using an innovative alternating current electrophoretic deposition (AC-EPD) method, completely eliminating binders and conductive additives. This approach significantly promotes pseudocapacitive charge storage in NMC111, leading to a notable enhancement in high-rate capability and cycling stability compared to conventional slurry-casted electrodes containing additives. Impressively, the additive-free AC-EPD NMC111 electrodes achieved a specific capacity exceeding 50 mAh.g-1 at a demanding 10C discharge rate with excellent retention. This marked improvement is attributed to favorable electrode architecture with enhanced kinetics, predominantly governed by pseudocapacitive contributions (b-value approaching 1), and satisfactory lithium-ion diffusivity, even in the absence of conductive aids. Beyond performance gains, this additive-free AC-EPD strategy provides a clean platform for fundamental studies of inherent electrode material properties and offers a pathway for low-cost, scalable, and N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)-free fabrication of high-quality thin film battery electrodes, promising to accelerate the development of next-generation energy storage solutions.

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