Can surface modification be more effective to enhance the electrochemical performance of lithium rich materials?

Lithium rich materials Li[Ni _0.2Li _0.2Mn _0.6]O ₂ have been successfully modified by coating a thick layer of electrochemical active delithiated oxides MnO _x (1.5 < x ≤ 2). The morphology observations and XRD results show that the thickness of coating layer of the modified sample 0.10MnO _x·0.90Li[Ni _0.2Li _0.2Mn _0.6]O ₂ is about 20 nm and there is a tiny amount of spinel structure in the coating layer. The electrochemical performance results indicate that the thick coated materials 0.10MnO _x·0.90Li[Ni _0.2Li _0.2Mn _0.6]O ₂ exhibit higher reversible capacity (265 mAh g ^-1 after 30 cycles), higher initial coulombic efficiency (90.2%), better low rate discharge capability (above 238 mAh g ^-1 at 1 C, 222 mAh g ^-1 at 2 C) and superior cycle-ability (30 cycles: 88.9%, subsequent 50 cycles after rest: 92.4%) than those of the pristine sample and conventional coated sample, respectively. The cycle voltammograms show good reversibility of the 0.10MnO _x·0.90Li[Ni _0.2Li _0.2Mn _0.6]O ₂ sample. The EIS tests reveal the charge transfer resistance of 0.10MnO _x·0.90Li[Ni _0.2Li _0.2Mn _0.6]O ₂ is lower than that of the pristine sample and conventional coated sample, respectively. Our research findings may provide significant new insights on surface modification of lithium rich cathode materials for the next generation of lithium ion batteries.