journal article·2026-07-10Open access

Electrostatic‐Attraction‐Driven Self‐Assembled Graphene‐Disordered Rocksalt Composite Cathode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Venkata Sai Avvaru, Mateusz Zuba, Beth L. Armstrong, Shilong Wang, Minh X. Tran, Bernardine L. D. Rinkel, Finn Babbe, Harshita Lohani, Yanbao Fu, Isik Su Buyuker, Vincent Battaglia, Ozgenur Kahvecioglu, Robert Kostecki, Bryan D. McCloskey, Haegyeom Kim

Abstract

ABSTRACT Disordered rocksalt cathodes hold promise for achieving high‐capacity lithium‐ion batteries while using low‐cost, earth‐abundant elements. However, their electrochemical performance remains critically limited by their poor electronic conductivity. Conventional strategies such as high‐energy ball milling with excess carbon additives can improve conductivity but remain challenging to scale and often produce defects and increase surface area, thereby accelerating capacity degradation. Herein, we report an alternative approach of electrostatic‐attraction‐driven self‐assembly to fabricate Li 1.2 Mn 0.6 Ti 0.2 O 1.8 F 0.2 (LMTOF) particles uniformly wrapped with electronically conductive graphene sheets without associated materials degradation. The graphene‐wrapped LMTOF demonstrates significantly improved cycling stability (89% capacity retention after 100 cycles) and superior rate capability compared with an LMTOF‐carbon composite electrode fabricated using the conventional high‐energy ball‐milling process. Post‐cycling analysis reveals reduced oxygen evolution, suppressed unwanted side reactions, and improved structural integrity for the graphene‐LMTOF composite. This work highlights the advantages of solution‐based carbon wrapping and offers a scalable strategy to prepare high‐performance DRX cathodes for lithium‐ion batteries.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advancements in Battery Materials · Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies · Extraction and Separation Processes

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Materials Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley California USA

Applied Materials Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont Illinois USA

Materials Science and Technology Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge Tennessee USA

Department of Materials Science and Engineering UC Berkeley Berkeley California USA

Energy Technologies and Systems Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley California USA

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of California Berkeley California USA

Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley California USA

Funding

U.S. Department of Energy · Office of Science · Basic Energy Sciences

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