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Probing Jahn-Teller Distortions and Antisite Defects in LiNiO2 with 7Li NMR Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Change log

Authors

Genreith-Schriever, Annalena R  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5626-2438
Coates, Chloe S 
Seymour, Ieuan D 

Abstract

The long- and local-range structure and electronic properties of the high-voltage lithium-ion cathode material for Li-ion batteries, LiNiO2, remain widely debated, as are the degradation phenomena at high states of delithiation, limiting the more widespread use of this material. In particular, the local structural environment and the role of Jahn-Teller distortions are unclear, as are the interplay of distortions and point defects and their influence on cycling behavior. Here, we use ex situ7Li NMR measurements in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to examine Jahn-Teller distortions and antisite defects in LiNiO2. We calculate the 7Li Fermi contact shifts for the Jahn-Teller distorted and undistorted structures, the experimental 7Li room-temperature spectrum being ascribed to an appropriately weighted time average of the rapidly fluctuating structure comprising collinear, zigzag, and undistorted domains. The 7Li NMR spectra are sensitive to the nature and distribution of antisite defects, and in combination with DFT calculations of different configurations, we show that the 7Li resonance at approximately -87 ppm is characteristic of a subset of Li-Ni antisite defects, and more specifically, a Li+ ion in the Ni layer that does not have an associated Ni ion in the Li layer in its 2nd cation coordination shell. Via ex situ7Li MAS NMR, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical experiments, we identify the 7Li spectral signatures of the different crystallographic phases on delithiation. The results imply fast Li-ion dynamics in the monoclinic phase and indicate that the hexagonal H3 phase near the end of charge is largely devoid of Li.

Description

Publication status: Published

Keywords

40 Engineering, 4016 Materials Engineering, 34 Chemical Sciences, 3406 Physical Chemistry

Journal Title

Chem Mater

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0897-4756
1520-5002

Volume Title

36

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)
Sponsorship
Faraday Institution (FIRG024)
Faraday Institution (Unknown)
Faraday Institution (FIRG001)
Faraday Institution (FIRG001)
Faraday Institution (Unknown)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Research Infrastructures (RI) (957189)
This work was supported by the Faraday Institution degradation project (FIRG011, FIRG020). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 957189 (BIGMAP). The project is part of BATTERY 2030+, the large-scale European research initiative for inventing the sustainable batteries of the future, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 957213. A.R.G.-S. gratefully acknowledges funding from the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. We thank Teresa Insinna for fruitful discussions. Generous computing resources were provided by the Sulis HPC service (EP/T022108/1).