Amorphous Lithium Borate Coating Enhances the Electrochemical Performance of Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate Cathodes for Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

The advancement of high-voltage lithium-ion batteries necessitates the use of cathode materials with improved electrochemical performance and cycling stability. Herein, an amorphous Li2B4O7 coating effectively enhances the electrochemical properties of LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4 (LMFP) cathodes is demonstrated. Specifically, the Li2B4O7 layer improves lithium-ion conductivity while suppressing manganese dissolution induced by Jahn-Teller distortion, both of which are critical factors affecting LMFP stability. Structural and electrochemical analyses reveal that the amorphous coating reduces Coulomb repulsion, lowers the energy barrier for lithium-ion migration, and enhances charge transfer kinetics. The coated LMFP demonstrates a high discharge capacity of 143.9 mAh g-1 at 20 mA g-1 and exhibits excellent cycling stability, retaining 94.6% of its capacity after 1000 cycles at 600 mA g-1. Furthermore, the amorphous Li2B4O7 coating enhances rate capability by facilitating rapid ion transport. These findings underscore the potential of Li2B4O7 as a multifunctional coating material for advanced lithium-ion battery cathodes, presenting a scalable and effective strategy for next-generation energy storage applications.