New Insight into Bulk Structural Degradation of High-Voltage LiCoO₂ at 4.55 V

The aggravated mechanical and structural degradation of layered oxide cathode materials upon high-voltage charging invariably causes fast capacity fading, but the underlying degradation mechanisms remain elusive. Here we report a new type of mechanical degradation through the formation of a kink band in a Mg and Ti co-doped LiCoO₂ cathode charged to 4.55 V (vs Li/Li⁺). The local stress accommodated by the kink band can impede crack propagation, improving the structural integrity in a highly delithiated state. Additionally, machine-learning-aided atomic-resolution imaging reveals that the formation of kink bands is often accompanied by the transformation from the O3 to O1 phase, which is energetically favorable as demonstrated by first-principles calculations. Our results provide new insights into the mechanical degradation mechanism of high-voltage LiCoO₂ and the coupling between electrochemically triggered mechanical failures and structural transition, which may provide valuable guidance for enhancing the electrochemical performance of high-voltage layered oxide cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.