{"id":{"repo_id":"cambridge","oai_identifier":"oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/363504"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cambridge/oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/363504","repository":{"repo_id":"cambridge","name":"Cambridge University","base_url":"https://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Approach Towards Understanding Surface Modification and its Influence on Ni-rich Layered Oxides in Li-ion Batteries","abstract":"Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial for transitioning towards a carbon neutral society. Nickel-rich layered oxides are the state-of-the-art material of choice, offering high practical capacities. However, accessing this high capacity induces structural degradation and parasitic electrolyte reactions at the surface. One strategy to mitigate this problem is surface modification with coating materials like Al2O3 – cycling life is extended but the fundamental reasons behind the protection are not well understood. Therefore, the aim of the thesis is to identify the characteristics of coatings that contribute to this protection with polycrystalline LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) coated with Al2O3 by atomic layer deposition (ALD) being studied. Varying the number of ALD cycles allows investigation of the influence of coating thickness (sub-nm differences) on surface degradation. Coupled with electrochemical cycling, it is revealed that an optimal coating thickness exists, balancing initial capacity with retentions. X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction confirm surface degradation is reduced with coating on the NMC811. Meanwhile, 27Al solid state (ss)NMR indicates that the chemical evolution of the coating is not correlated with coating thicknesses. Detailed structural and chemical evolution of the Al2O3 coating at different stages of the electrochemical cycling process is tracked using a multinuclear NMR approach. Probing dipolar interactions between 27Al and 1H/19F/7Li shows the coating is susceptible to reactions involving acidic and protic species from the electrolyte, but no lithiated alumina phase is formed. The changes are concomitant with stabilisation of the surface oxygen electronic structure by the coating, supported by less electrolyte degradation. Finally, the heat treatment and performance of Al2O3 coated NMC811 is presented to provide insights into the effect of a range of coating structures. 27Al ssNMR shows that heating induces Al doping into the bulk NMC structure in parallel to crystallisation of the initial amorphous phase. However, the electrochemical cycling suggests a conformal coating performs better than these modifications. From these studies, it is clear that Al2O3 surface modification have a chemical role in passivating the NMC811 surface, with strong implications for material engineering of long-lasting and high energy density LIBs.","abstract_html":"Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial for transitioning towards a carbon neutral society. Nickel-rich layered oxides are the state-of-the-art material of choice, offering high practical capacities. However, accessing this high capacity induces structural degradation and parasitic electrolyte reactions at the surface. One strategy to mitigate this problem is surface modification with coating materials like Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> – cycling life is extended but the fundamental reasons behind the protection are not well understood. Therefore, the aim of the thesis is to identify the characteristics of coatings that contribute to this protection with polycrystalline LiNi<sub>0.8</sub>Mn<sub>0.1</sub>Co<sub>0.1</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (NMC811) coated with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> by atomic layer deposition (ALD) being studied. Varying the number of ALD cycles allows investigation of the influence of coating thickness (sub-nm differences) on surface degradation. Coupled with electrochemical cycling, it is revealed that an optimal coating thickness exists, balancing initial capacity with retentions. X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction confirm surface degradation is reduced with coating on the NMC811. Meanwhile, <sup>27</sup>Al solid state (ss)NMR indicates that the chemical evolution of the coating is not correlated with coating thicknesses. Detailed structural and chemical evolution of the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> coating at different stages of the electrochemical cycling process is tracked using a multinuclear NMR approach. Probing dipolar interactions between <sup>27</sup>Al and <sup>1</sup>H/<sup>19</sup>F/<sup>7</sup>Li shows the coating is susceptible to reactions involving acidic and protic species from the electrolyte, but no lithiated alumina phase is formed. The changes are concomitant with stabilisation of the surface oxygen electronic structure by the coating, supported by less electrolyte degradation. Finally, the heat treatment and performance of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> coated NMC811 is presented to provide insights into the effect of a range of coating structures. <sup>27</sup>Al ssNMR shows that heating induces Al doping into the bulk NMC structure in parallel to crystallisation of the initial amorphous phase. However, the electrochemical cycling suggests a conformal coating performs better than these modifications. From these studies, it is clear that Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> surface modification have a chemical role in passivating the NMC811 surface, with strong implications for material engineering of long-lasting and high energy density LIBs.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Chen, Richard Lin Bin"],"institution":"University of Cambridge","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Grey, Clare"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-09-29","date_published":"2023-09-29","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:33:23Z","subjects":["Al2O3","coatings","Li-ion batteries","Ni-rich cathode","Nuclear Magnetic Resonance","X-ray diffraction","X-ray spectroscopy"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/9c8e421d-7c5e-49e0-b278-b770a6eff7a3/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.105541","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.doi"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Grey, Clare"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["Cambridge Trust The Faraday Institution"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Chen, Richard Lin Bin"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2023-09-29"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cambridge"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby.uri","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby URI","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/363504"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Al2O3","coatings","Li-ion batteries","Ni-rich cathode","Nuclear Magnetic Resonance","X-ray diffraction","X-ray spectroscopy"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/9c8e421d-7c5e-49e0-b278-b770a6eff7a3/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.105541"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/a4a580c5-afec-487c-8e06-997bac989aec/download"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial for transitioning towards a carbon neutral society. Nickel-rich layered oxides are the state-of-the-art material of choice, offering high practical capacities. However, accessing this high capacity induces structural degradation and parasitic electrolyte reactions at the surface. One strategy to mitigate this problem is surface modification with coating materials like Al2O3 – cycling life is extended but the fundamental reasons behind the protection are not well understood. Therefore, the aim of the thesis is to identify the characteristics of coatings that contribute to this protection with polycrystalline LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) coated with Al2O3 by atomic layer deposition (ALD) being studied. Varying the number of ALD cycles allows investigation of the influence of coating thickness (sub-nm differences) on surface degradation. Coupled with electrochemical cycling, it is revealed that an optimal coating thickness exists, balancing initial capacity with retentions. X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction confirm surface degradation is reduced with coating on the NMC811. Meanwhile, 27Al solid state (ss)NMR indicates that the chemical evolution of the coating is not correlated with coating thicknesses. Detailed structural and chemical evolution of the Al2O3 coating at different stages of the electrochemical cycling process is tracked using a multinuclear NMR approach. Probing dipolar interactions between 27Al and 1H/19F/7Li shows the coating is susceptible to reactions involving acidic and protic species from the electrolyte, but no lithiated alumina phase is formed. The changes are concomitant with stabilisation of the surface oxygen electronic structure by the coating, supported by less electrolyte degradation. Finally, the heat treatment and performance of Al2O3 coated NMC811 is presented to provide insights into the effect of a range of coating structures. 27Al ssNMR shows that heating induces Al doping into the bulk NMC structure in parallel to crystallisation of the initial amorphous phase. However, the electrochemical cycling suggests a conformal coating performs better than these modifications. From these studies, it is clear that Al2O3 surface modification have a chemical role in passivating the NMC811 surface, with strong implications for material engineering of long-lasting and high energy density LIBs."]},{"key":"dc:format.checksum.md5","label":"Dc Format Checksum Md5","values":["61b195c1bee05dc6c5d0173a92b059ea","87eda9de84448d1f82354d60eee3eb5f"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Approach Towards Understanding Surface Modification and its Influence on Ni-rich Layered Oxides in Li-ion Batteries"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Grey, Clare"],"dc:contributor.sponsor":["Cambridge Trust The Faraday Institution"],"dc:creator":["Chen, Richard Lin Bin"],"dc:date.issued":["2023-09-29"],"dc:description.abstract":["Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial for transitioning towards a carbon neutral society. Nickel-rich layered oxides are the state-of-the-art material of choice, offering high practical capacities. However, accessing this high capacity induces structural degradation and parasitic electrolyte reactions at the surface. One strategy to mitigate this problem is surface modification with coating materials like Al2O3 – cycling life is extended but the fundamental reasons behind the protection are not well understood. Therefore, the aim of the thesis is to identify the characteristics of coatings that contribute to this protection with polycrystalline LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) coated with Al2O3 by atomic layer deposition (ALD) being studied. Varying the number of ALD cycles allows investigation of the influence of coating thickness (sub-nm differences) on surface degradation. Coupled with electrochemical cycling, it is revealed that an optimal coating thickness exists, balancing initial capacity with retentions. X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction confirm surface degradation is reduced with coating on the NMC811. Meanwhile, 27Al solid state (ss)NMR indicates that the chemical evolution of the coating is not correlated with coating thicknesses. Detailed structural and chemical evolution of the Al2O3 coating at different stages of the electrochemical cycling process is tracked using a multinuclear NMR approach. Probing dipolar interactions between 27Al and 1H/19F/7Li shows the coating is susceptible to reactions involving acidic and protic species from the electrolyte, but no lithiated alumina phase is formed. The changes are concomitant with stabilisation of the surface oxygen electronic structure by the coating, supported by less electrolyte degradation. Finally, the heat treatment and performance of Al2O3 coated NMC811 is presented to provide insights into the effect of a range of coating structures. 27Al ssNMR shows that heating induces Al doping into the bulk NMC structure in parallel to crystallisation of the initial amorphous phase. However, the electrochemical cycling suggests a conformal coating performs better than these modifications. From these studies, it is clear that Al2O3 surface modification have a chemical role in passivating the NMC811 surface, with strong implications for material engineering of long-lasting and high energy density LIBs."],"dc:format.checksum.md5":["61b195c1bee05dc6c5d0173a92b059ea","87eda9de84448d1f82354d60eee3eb5f"],"dc:identifier.doi":["https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.105541"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/a4a580c5-afec-487c-8e06-997bac989aec/download"],"dc:language":["eng"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Cambridge"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby.uri":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/363504"],"dc:rights":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/9c8e421d-7c5e-49e0-b278-b770a6eff7a3/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"],"dc:subject":["Al2O3","coatings","Li-ion batteries","Ni-rich cathode","Nuclear Magnetic Resonance","X-ray diffraction","X-ray spectroscopy"],"dc:title":["A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Approach Towards Understanding Surface Modification and its Influence on Ni-rich Layered Oxides in Li-ion Batteries"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:33:23Z"}