TOPIC 21 - New cobalt-free lithium-rich layered oxides as positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion technology is the most promising avenue for the electrification of vehicles. Although already currently in use for several decades, an optimization of the electrode materials is still possible. ln this context, lithium-rich layered oxides Li(1+x)M(1-x)O2 (where O < x< 1/3, and M is usually a mix of manganese, nickel and cobalt) have been intensively studied as positive electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries due to their high capacity (more than 250 mAh/g). However, these materials also present some serious drawbacks. Batteries made with these materials at the positive electrode can show an important capacity loss after the first cycle due to the partial irreversibility of the oxygen redox process.They also exhibit a decrease in voltage during cycling which originales with the migration of manganese ions within the lithium layers and the formation of a spinel- like structure al the surface of the particles.

This PhD project proposes to design new layered structures that will significantly improve electrochemical performance of lithium-rich layered oxides. Particular attention will be paid to developing cobalt-free materials. The project will caver a wide range of activities from the synthesis of materials to their characterizations (mainly structural and electrochemical characterizations) it and will take place between the ICMCB in Bordeaux (France), mainly, and TME in Brussels (Belgium), during periods of secondment (4 months total).

The ICMCB is an academic laboratory intemationally recognized for ils expertise in the synthesis and study of layered oxides as positive electrode materials for batteries. TME Technical Centre in Zaventem (BE) is home to Research & Development (R&D) Material Engineering (ME) division doing leading-edge research in Europe for the Toyota group in the field of batteries, fuel cells, catalysts, solar cells, materials modelling and advanced analysis. These two partners have been working together in close collaboration for more than ten years to design new electrode materials for batteries. The PhD candidate will therefore benefit from a balanced co-supervision between an academic partner and an industrial partner.

Supervisor(s) contact: GUIGNARD Marie; marie.guignard@icmcb.cnrs.fr