High voltage Li-rich Mn-based cathode modified by silica-coated silver nanowires for next-generation high energy density lithium-ion batteries

Layered Li-rich Mn-based oxide cathode materials (LRMO) have attracted extensive attention because of their high energy density. However, the poor cyclic stability, rate capability, and rapidly decay in voltage impede the practical application. Herein, a novel strategy for designing LRMO modified by silica-coated silver nanowires (AgNWs@SiO 2 ) is reported. The AgNWs@SiO 2 can provide the faster Li + diffusion kinetics, increase oxygen vacancy, and facilitate the heat dissipation in LRMO. As a result, the AgNWs@SiO 2 modified LRMO delivers a higher capacity retention of 71.6 % (after 500 cycles at 25 °C) and 58.5 % (after 200 cycles at 60 °C) at 1C than that of the untreated LRMO (65.2 % after 500 cycles at 25 °C and 37.8 % after 110 cycles at 60 °C). Meanwhile, the AgNWs@SiO 2 modified LRMO also possesses high-rate discharge specific capacity of 105.4 mAh g -1 at 10C and capacity retention of 50.6 % after 1000 cycles at 3C (the untreated LRMO only remains 19.3 % after 600 cycles at 3C). Furthermore, the AgNWs@SiO 2 modified LRMO also exhibits good electrochemical performance in the cell assembled with Si@C anode. This work provides a promising strategy for the possibility practical application toward next-generation high energy density lithium-ion batteries.