Enhancing electrochemical performance of Ni-rich cathodes for Li-ion batteries through spatial atomic layer deposition of ZnO coatings

This work employed spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) technology to apply an amorphous ZnO coating directly onto the cathode with precise control over its thickness (15 nm) at the atomic level to improve electrochemical performance. The cathode treated with 200 ALD cycles demonstrates significantly enhanced high current rates (171 % higher than the bare sample at 2C) and cycle stability compared to the untreated material (150 % higher than the bare sample). This improvement is attributed to the superior quality of the ALD oxide coating, which shields the active material from HF attack, reduces metal ion dissolution within the electrode, and promotes Li-ion diffusion. This SALD process offers a promising avenue for the battery industry to produce innovative electrodes capable of maintaining high performance even under rigorous conditions of high-rate cycling.