The chemical diffusion coefficient in LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 was determined via the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique in the voltage range 3 to 4.2 V. Calculated diffusion coefficients in these layered oxide cathodes during charging and discharging reach a minimum at the open-circuit voltage of 3.8 V and 3.7 V vs. Li/Li+, respectively. The observed minima of the chemical diffusion coefficients indicate a phase transition in this voltage range. The unit cell parameters of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathodes were determined at different lithiation states using ex situ crystallographic analysis. It was shown that the unit cell parameter variation correlates well with the observed values for chemical diffusion in NMC cathodes; with a notable change in absolute values in the same voltage range. We relate the observed variation in unit cell parameters to the nickel conversion into the trivalent state, which is Jahn-Teller active, and to the re-arrangement of lithium ions and vacancies.
Keywords: 207 Fuel cells; Batteries; GITT; Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide; NMC; Super capacitors; chemical diffusion coefficient; crystallographic analysis; phase transition.
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by National Institute for Materials Science in partnership with Taylor & Francis Group.