Thread by @jpr007

In summary, we have developed an all-dry method for producing single crystal lithium cathode materials with a layered structure

This method was developed based on a number of key discoveries
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.114…

1. Ball milling a mixture of transition metal oxides can produce homogeneous Ni,Mn,Co-oxide precursors, even to the extent of atomic mixing, so that previously unobserved (Ni, Mn, Co)O solid solution rock salt phase precursors can be formed

2. The final crystallite size of SC-NMC is only related to the heating conditions and has no relation to the precursor particle size, as previously believed

3. A large crystallite size SC-NMC with low cation mixing can be achieved from ball milled precursors using a 2-step air/O2 sintering

4. Using an all dry method instead of co-precipitation to synthesize precursors for SC cathode materials has significant implications

5. As reviewed in the introduction, the environmental benefits of an all dry method are apparent: it has high yield, produces little waste, and saves large amounts of water

6. Compared to the co-precipitation process, the dry process is significantly less complicated

7. Such a large reduction in processing steps is typically associated with lower cost

8. Another advantage with the all-dry method is that the choices of precursors can be more flexible than the co-precipitation method, as for the dry process they need not be soluble, nor are they required to precipitate at the same pH

9. It is expected this method can be applied to make other SC cathode materials, including NCA, cobalt-free layered cathodes, or layered cathode materials with special dopants, such as W, Mo, etc., possibly enabling materials not accessible by the co-precipitation method

We therefore hope to expand the use of these dry processing methods in future studies