High Capacity Li[Li[sub 0.2]Mn[sub 0.54]Ni[sub 0.13]Co[sub 0.13]]O[sub 2]–VO[sub 2](B) Composite Cathodes with Controlled Irreversible Capacity Loss for Lithium-Ion Batteries

To reduce the huge first-cycle irreversible capacity loss of the high capacity layered oxide cathode , the lithium-free insertion host has been mechanically mixed with the layered oxide and characterized. The first-cycle irreversible capacity loss decreases from with increasing content and vanishes completely at , as the lithium-free inserts the lithium ions that could not be inserted back into the layered oxide lattice after the first charge. The composite cathode with shows the best electrochemical performance in terms of coulombic efficiency, cyclability, and rate capability.