Attachment of Li[Ni0.2Li0.2Mn0.6]O2 Nanoparticles to the Graphene Surface Using Electrostatic Interaction Without Deterioration of Phase Integrity

In this article, we report a facile approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of Li-rich oxides with vulnerable phase stability. The Li-rich oxide nanoparticles were attached to the surface of graphene; the graphene surface acted as a matrix with high electronic conductivity that compensated for the low conductivity and enhanced the rate capability of the oxides. Our novel approach constitutes a direct assembly of two materials via electrostatic interaction, without a high-temperature heat treatment. The inevitable deterioration in phase integrity of previous composites between carbon and Li-rich oxides resulted from the reaction of oxygen in the structure with carbon during the heat-treatment process. However, our new method successfully attached Li-rich nanoparticles to the surface of graphene, without a phase change of the oxides. The resulting graphene/Li-rich oxide composites exhibited superior capacity and rate capability compared to their pristine Li-rich counterparts.