A robust ZrO2 rectifier layer derived from UiO-66 enable ultra-high nickel cathodes with high stability and ion transport kinetics for lithium-ion batteries

The theoretical capacity of the Ni-rich ternary layered oxide can be significantly enhanced by increasing Ni content. However, the resulted significantly decrease in structural stability can severely impair the cathode capacity and deteriorate Li+ transport kinetics. Herein, a ZrO2 coating layer derived from the Zr-based metal-organic framework is introduced to address this challenge. The ZrO2 coating layer can mitigate lattice oxygen distortion to preserve structural stability and the inherited pore structure of metal-organic framework can be severed as a rectifier to regulate lithium-ion transport. Therefore, the designed ZrO2-coated Ni-rich ternary layered oxide exhibits superior capacity retention after long-term cycling, improved rate performance and higher Li+ transport kinetics at the interface compared to the pristine sample. This work provides a novel approach for using metal-organic framework in ultra-high nickel cathodes coating modification, which facilitates the application of ultra-high nickel cathodes in lithium-ion battery system.