Hierarchical Mesoporous Lithium-Rich Li[Li_0.2Ni_0.2Mn_0.6]O₂ Cathode Material Synthesized via Ice Templating for Lithium-Ion Battery

Tuning hierarchical micro/nanostructure of electrode materials is a sought-after means to reinforce their electrochemical performance in the energy storage field. Herein, we introduce a type of hierarchical mesoporous Li[Li_0.2Ni_0.2Mn_0.6]O₂ microsphere composed of nanoparticles synthesized via an ice templating combined coprecipitation strategy. It is a low-cost, eco-friendly, and easily operated method using ice as a template to control material with homogeneous morphology and rich porous channels. The as-prepared material exhibits remarkably enhanced electrochemical performances with higher capacity, more excellent cycling stability and more superior rate property, compared with the sample prepared by conventional coprecipitation method. It has satisfactory initial discharge capacities of 280.1 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 C, 207.1 mAh g^-1 at 2 C, and 152.4 mAh g^-1 at 5 C, as well as good cycle performance. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be ascribed to the stable hierarchical microsized structure and the improved lithium-ion diffusion kinetics from the highly porous structure.