Large-Sized Nickel–Cobalt–Manganese Composite Oxide Agglomerate Anode Material for Long-Life-Span Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with higher energy density and longer lifespan have become an urgent goal in the current energy storage market. The metal-oxide-based anodes have become a hot research material due to their higher specific capacity compared with commercial graphite. In this work, large-sized nickel–cobalt–manganese ternary composite oxide agglomerate microspheres are prepared by a two-step synthesis method of hydroxide coprecipitation and high-temperature annealing. A larger particle size reduces the specific surface area of the material, resulting in fewer undesirable interfacial side reactions. The nickel–cobalt–manganese composite oxide combines its triple advantages of high capacity, high conductivity, and high stability. The simple coprecipitation and high-temperature annealing methods are convenient for large-scale industrial applications. The obtained Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2Ox composite oxide material exhibits a high lithium storage capacity of 782 mAh g–1 at 0.2 A g–1 and still maintains a specific capacity of 560 mAh g–1 after 500 long cycles under a high current density of 1.0 A g–1. The excellent rate performance is also shown, with a specific capacity of 504 mAh g–1 at a current density of 5.0 A g–1. Furthermore, the Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2Ox composite oxide material also delivers superior electrochemical performance in a full battery with the LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode material. The nickel–cobalt–manganese composite oxide will be a promising anode material for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.