Mitigating the Surface Degradation and Voltage Decay of Li(1.2)Ni(0.13)Mn(0.54)Co(0.13)O(2) Cathode Material through Surface Modification Using Li(2)ZrO(3)

[Image: see text] In the quest to tackle the issue of surface degradation and voltage decay associated with Li-rich phases, Li-ion conductive Li(2)ZrO(3) (LZO) is coated on Li(1.2)Ni(0.13)Mn(0.54)Co(0.13)O(2) (LNMC) by a simple wet chemical process. The LZO phase coated on LNMC, with a thickness of about 10 nm, provides a structural integrity and facilitates the ion pathways throughout the charge–discharge process, which results in significant improvement of the electrochemical performances. The surface-modified cathode material exhibits a reversible capacity of 225 mA h g(–1) (at C/5 rate) and retains 85% of the initial capacity after 100 cycles. Whereas, the uncoated pristine sample shows a capacity of 234 mA h g(–1) and retains only 57% of the initial capacity under identical conditions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals that the LZO coating plays a vital role in stabilizing the interface between the electrode and electrolyte during cycling; thus, it alleviates material degradation and voltage fading and ameliorates the electrochemical performance.