Published Aug. 5, 2026
Summary
New lithium-excess rocksalt cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries use intergrown cation ordering (CO) structures. This provides high energy density, stability, and fast lithium diffusion, without needing cobalt or nickel.
Applications
- Electric Vehicle Batteries
- Grid Energy Storage
- Aerospace Power Systems
- High-Power Industrial Tools
- Consumer electronics
Advantages/Benefits
- High energy density (>750 Wh/kg) comparable to high-Ni layered cathodes without using cobalt or nickel
- Enhanced cycling stability with stable capacity retention over 200+ cycles
- Improved safety and thermal stability due to stable rocksalt structure and manganese-based chemistry
- Does not require critical, supply-constrained elements like cobalt and nickel
Background
Lithium-excess cation-disordered rocksalts (DRX) are promising next-generation high energy cathodes mostly based on earth-abundant metals. They are typically oxide and oxyfluoride compounds with no apparent cation ordering in the long-range. While high capacities are often obtained from DRX, this class of cathodes typically suffer from voltage decay and poor cycling stability.
Technology Overview
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a class of high-energy lithium-excess cation ordered/disordered rocksalt (ODRX) cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries capable of stable long-term cycling. They feature a unique intergrowth of cation ordering structures within a rocksalt framework, enabling high energy density, superior cycling stability, and excellent rate capability. Cobalt and nickel-free, they leverage earth-abundant manganese chemistry for sustainable, safe, and cost-effective battery performance.
This technology is differentiated by overcoming critical limitations of existing cathodes, offering comparable energy density to high-nickel layered oxides but without their reliance on costly, supply-constrained cobalt and nickel, or their thermal instability and safety issues. The dynamic structural evolution during cycling, involving the interconversion of cation ordering phases, facilitates fast lithium diffusion and superior structural reversibility. The cathode achieves an energy density of ~770 Wh/kg and stable capacity retention for over 200 cycles.
Development Stage
TRL 3: Proof of concept. Performance verified in laboratory coin-cell batteries.
Inventors
Status
Patent pending
Opportunities
Available for licensing or collaboration
For More Information
Ahn, J. et al. May 2023. Ultrahigh‐Capacity Rocksalt Cathodes Enabled by Cycling‐Activated Structural Changes. Advanced Energy Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202300221
