Understanding Discharge‐Driven Growth of Cathode Impedance in Ni‐Rich NMC Cathodes

ABSTRACT Degradation of LiNi _x Mn _y Co _1‐x‐y O ₂ (NMC)‐based lithium‐ion batteries depends strongly on cut‐off voltage ranges. In addition to the high upper cut‐off voltage, a high depth of discharge (i.e., lower cut‐off voltage) significantly worsens cathode impedance growth and capacity fade during long‐term cycling. However, there is currently no consensus on the mechanism behind the negative role of a deep discharge. Here, this phenomenon was investigated in graphite||NMC cells with single‐crystal cathodes (LiNi _0.6 Co _0.2 Mn _0.2 O ₂ (NMC622) or LiNi _0.76 Co _0.14 Mn _0.10 O ₂ (NMC76)) using targeted aging protocols (constant high‐voltage holds vs. charge–discharge cycling), while monitoring transition‐metal (TM) dissolution, cathode‐electrolyte interface (CEI) impedance, and NMC surface composition. We demonstrate a correlation between discharge‐driven CEI impedance growth and increased TM dissolution. Furthermore, this degradation pathway is more pronounced in lower‐Ni NMC622 than in higher‐Ni (NMC76) under comparable delithiation states at charge, with both compositions undergoing the H2→H3 phase transition. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals NMC composition‐dependent evolution of surface lattice oxygen and restructured surface layer composition between charged and discharged states. These findings add mechanistic depth to the role of discharge as an active driver of interfacial degradation and provide new insights into its composition dependence.