Browsing by Author "Mathe, Mkhulu K."

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Exploring layered lithium-rich spinel composite cathodes for lithium-ion battery obtained by the solution combustion-mechanochemical synthesis
(Journal of Alloys and Compounds Volume 1038, 2025-08-20) Ehi-Eromosele, Cyril O.; Ajayi, Samuel O.; Shaaban, Ibrahim A.; Assiri, Mohammed A.; Hessien, Mahmoud M.; Abiaziem, Chioma V.; Sunday, Sam E.; Mathe, Mkhulu K.
In this study, layered lithium-rich oxides (LLO) cathode materials were modified with different amounts of the spinel phase to form integrated layered-layered-spinel (LLS) hetero-composites [0.5Li2 MnO3 ꞏ (0.5 − x)LiNi0.5 Mn0.3 Co0.2 O2 ꞏ xLiMn1.5 Ni0.5 O4 (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.25)] using a facile solution combustion mechanochemical synthesis method for the first time. The XRD results indicate that all the LLS materials have distinct layered and spinel phases with R3m, C2/m and Fd3m space groups. Notably, the initial coulombic efficiency of the LLS materials increased with increase in the spinel content but showed a reduction both in their charge and discharge capacities. The LLS doped with 5 % spinel content (651LLS), exhibited the best electrochemical performance compared to the ones doped with 15 % spinel content, gave the smallest particle size and the largest unit cell volume. Consequently, the 651LLS cell delivered the highest initial discharge capacity of 279.58 mAh g⁻¹ and a capacity retention of 84.71 % after 50 cycles at a current density of 10 mA g⁻¹ within a voltage window of 2.0 – 4.8 V. Additionally, the 651LLS cell demonstrated superior rate capability with the average capacities 275, 225, 200, 155, and 90 mAh g⁻¹ at 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 mA g−1. This enhanced performance is attributed to the optimised spinel amount and the smaller particle size which facilitated faster Li-ion transport during cycling. Also, the optimal electrochemical behaviour of the 651LLS cathode is linked to its optimum spinel content (∼5 %) which contributed to its improved structural stability. The results show that the amount of spinel in these LLS materials must be carefully tuned in relation to the operating cycling parameters to produce optimum electrochemical performance.
Improving cycling performance and high rate capability of LiNi0.5 Mn0.3 Co0.2 O2 cathode materials by sol-gel combustion synthesis
(Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, Volume 196, 2025-01) Ehi-Eromosele, Cyril O.; Liu, Xinying; Mathe, Mkhulu K.
The layered LiNi0.5 Mn0.2 Co0.2 O2 (NMC532) material displays capacity loss and poor rate performance even though it is a widely used cathode in commercial Li-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, the structural and electrochemical performance of the NMC532 cathode were optimized using the fuel-to-oxidizer ratio assisted sol-gel combustion synthesis (SCS). It was shown that the fuel-to-oxidizer ratio markedly influenced the exothermicity of the combustion reaction which affected the crystal structure, morphology, and electrochemical performance of the final NCM532 materials. The fuel lean (FL) composition produced NMC532 cathode materials with the biggest crystallite and particle sizes, less cation mixing degree and better layered structure compared with the fuel stoichiometric (FS) and fuel rich (FR) compositions. The FL cell presented an initial discharge capacity of 180 mAh g−1 and the highest capacity retention of 92.2 % when it was cycled at 0.1 C between 2.5 and 4.4 V. Also, the FL cell displayed exceptional rate capability with the average capacities reaching 180, 178, 175, and 173 mAh/g at current densities of 1 C, 3 C, 5 C, and 10 C, respectively between 3.0 and 4.6 V. The EIS tests and dQ/dV plots showed that the FL cell both had the least impedance and polarization. The superior electrochemical performance of the FL material was ascribed to its optimized structural properties. Furthermore, the electrochemical results also show the influence of voltage window and current density on the performance of the NMC532 cathode materials.
Recent developments strategies in high entropy modified lithium-rich layered oxides cathode for lithium-ion batteries
(Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 2025-02) Ajayi, Samuel O.; Dolla, Tarekegn H.; Bello, Ismaila T; Liu, Xinying; Makgwane, Peter R.; Mathe, Mkhulu K.; Ehi-Eromosele, Cyril O.
Lithium-rich layered oxides (LRLOs) are of intense interest and are regarded as one of the best cathodes for next-generation Lithium-Ion batteries (LIBs). LRLOs are favored due to the low cost of production, high energy densities, voltage, and specific capacity. LRLOs suffer from irreversible capacity loss, poor rate capability, voltage, and capacity fade, which in turn limit their full practical applications and commercialization. Therefore, strategies such as surface coating, surface treatment, composition optimization, and elemental doping have been explored to enhance the structural and electrochemical performance of LRLO. Nevertheless, high entropy (multiple elements) doping has proven to be a very effective strategy due to its simplicity and expansion of LRLO lattice interplanar spacing without damaging their original structure. It is worth noting that there has been little research work on high entropy strategies for modifying LRLO cathode. Thus, the aim of this review is current update on high entropy strategies for modifying LRLO cathode materials.