Mass-Scalable Molecular Monolayer for Ni-Rich Cathode Powder: Solution for Microcrack Failure in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Ni-rich layered oxide with high reversible capacity, low manufacturing cost, and high potential is recognized as the best practical cathode material for high energy density lithium-ion batteries for affordable electric vehicles. However, they suffer from a poor cycle life owing to internal microcracks, which have been perceived to be due to anisotropic volume changes. Herein, the failure mechanism as well as improved cycle life is demonstrated by a self-assembled molecular monolayer (SAM) on Ni-rich layered oxide powder with a gas-phase precursor of octyltrichlorosilane (OTS), enabling mass-scalable manufacturing.

Tailoring the crystallinity of solution-processed 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene via controlled solidification.

Solution processing is one of the most important techniques for producing large-area, uniform films for printed electronics via a low-cost process. Herein, we propose a time-controlled spin-coating method to improve the crystallinity of films of the solution-processable organic small-molecule semiconductor 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene). A key factor in this process was to halt spinning before drying had begun.