The LiNiO₂ Cathode Active Material: A Comprehensive Study of Calcination Conditions and their Correlation with Physicochemical Properties Part II. Morphology

A better understanding of the cathode active material (CAM) plays a crucial role in the improvement of lithium-ion batteries. We have previously reported the structural properties of the model cathode material LiNiO₂ (LNO) in dependence of its calcination conditions and found that the deviation from the ideal stoichiometry in LiNiO₂ (Ni excess) shows no correlation to the 1st cycle capacity loss. Rather, the morphology of LNO appears to be decisive. As CAM secondary agglomerates fracture during battery operation, the surface area in contact with the electrolyte changes during cycle life. Thus, particle morphology and especially the primary particle size become critical and are analyzed in detail in this report for LNO, using an automated SEM image segmentation method. It is shown that the accessible surface area of the pristine CAM powder measured by physisorption is close to the secondary particle geometric surface area. The interface area between CAM and electrolyte is measured by an in situ capacitance method and approaches a value proportional to the estimated primary particle surface area determined by SEM image analysis after just a few cycles. This interface area is identified to be the governing factor determining the 1st cycle capacity loss and long-term cycling behavior.