Structural and Electrochemical Investigation of Ni- and Mn-Based Disordered Rock Salt Cathode Materials without d⁰ Elements

Title data

Reitano, Agnese ; Emamjomeh, Mahsa ; Suard, Emmanuelle ; Mansfeld, Ulrich ; Marini, Carlo ; Bianchini, Matteo:
Structural and Electrochemical Investigation of Ni- and Mn-Based Disordered Rock Salt Cathode Materials without d⁰ Elements.
In: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Vol. 18 (2026) Issue 5 . - pp. 8393-8403.
ISSN 1944-8252
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c18817

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

Disordered rock salt (DRX) compounds are increasingly investigated as promising alternatives to conventional layered oxide cathodes due to their intrinsic cation-disordered structure that enables extensive chemical tunability, mitigating reliance on critical elements traditionally used in lithium-ion batteries. In this work, we present a new class of DRX materials obtained via mechanochemistry without any d0 stabilizing element, with the target composition Li2yMnyNi2–3yO2 (0.50 ≤ y ≤ 0.67). We design the materials with Ni as the main redox-active species, while Mn acts as a charge compensator and structural stabilizer with moderate redox activity. Structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD), and scanning and transmission electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) to assess the morphology and confirm the transition metal composition. Electrochemical testing revealed promising specific capacities approaching 191 mAh/g for Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.60O2, alongside, however, a significant voltage hysteresis and polarization. The dQ/dV curves suggest multiple redox processes, whose evolution upon cycling suggests irreversible phase transformations. The charge compensation mechanism is further clarified by semi-simultaneous operando XRD and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, enabling the investigation of lattice evolution and electronic changes at the Ni and Mn K-edges during the charge, in fact proving that Ni and Mn are both redox active, as is oxygen, and that the structure evolves toward a spinel phase over prolonged cycling.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Keywords:	cathode; DRX; d⁰element; mechanochemistry; Li-ion; operando
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Lehrstuhl Anorganische Aktivmaterialien für elektrochemische Energiespeicher > Lehrstuhl Anorganische Aktivmaterialien für elektrochemische Energiespeicher - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Matteo Bianchini Research Institutions > Central research institutes > Bayerisches Zentrum für Batterietechnik - BayBatt Research Institutions > Affiliated Institutes > Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI)
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 540 Chemistry
Date Deposited:	24 Feb 2026 08:06
Last Modified:	24 Feb 2026 08:06
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/96375