Flash Synthesis of High-Performance Sub-Micron Low-Disorder NCA Cathode Single Crystals

A rapid solid-state Flash Heat and Quench (FHQ) synthesis approach has been used to facilitate the rapid formation of layered NCA Li-ion cathodes with low structural defects. NCA materials prepared by FHQ revealed impressive gravimetric capacity at C/10 and 10C discharge rates (195 and 150 mAh g−1, respectively) after a few minutes of heating a co-precipitate mixture with LiOH, effectively an >95% reduction in energy needed for heat-treatment versus conventional solid state synthesis routes. Combined X-Ray Diffraction, Neutron Total Scattering with Pair-Distribution-Function analysis, and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy for a range of heat-treated samples were used to identify the point at which Ni2+−Li+ anti-site defects were minimised in these materials, which was critical to their electrochemical performance.