Acta Physica Sinica, Volume. 68, Issue 18, 187101-1(2019)

First-principles study of effects of Ga, Ge and As doping on electrochemical properties and electronic structure of Li2CoSiO4 serving as cathode material for Li-ion batteries

Xiao-Tong Yan1, Yu-Hua Hou1、*, Shou-Hong Zheng1, You-Lin Huang1, and Xiao-Ma Tao2
Author Affiliations
  • 1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
  • 2School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
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    Silicate cathode material Li2CoSiO4 has received wide attention due to high theoretical capacity. However, the high discharge makes the existing electrolyte unable to satisfy the requirements of its use, and the poor cyclic stability limits its further application and development. The high discharge and cycle stability of Li2CoSiO4 cathode material can be improved by doping corresponding elements. The effects of non-transition high-valent elements of Ga, Ge and As doping on structural, electrochemical and electronic properties of Li-ion battery cathode material Li2CoSiO4 are systematically studied by the first-principles calculations based on density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation with Hubbard corrections (GGA + U). The calculation results show that the maximum expansion range of the unit cell volume of Li2CoSiO4 cathode material during lithium ion removal is 3.5%. However, the Ga, Ge and As doping reduce the variation range of unit cell volume during the delithiation of the system, which is beneficial to the improvement of the cycle stability of Li2CoSiO4 material. Furthermore, the Ga, Ge and As doping can reduce the theoretical average deintercalation voltages of extraction for the first Li+ in per formula unit; the theoretical average deintercalation voltages of the doping systems decrease by 1.65 V, 1.64 V and 1.64 V, respectively, compared with the deintercalation voltage of the undoped Li2CoSiO4 system. Meanwhile, except for the Ga doping, the Ge and As doping can also effectively reduce their theoretical average deintercalation voltagesin the secondary delithiation process. The density of states and magnetic moment show that Co2+ has a strong binding effect on the 3d orbital electrons, which makes it difficult for Co2+ in Li2CoSiO4 material to lose electrons for participating in the charge compensation in the process of Li+ removal. However, the Ga, Ge and As doping can effectively participate in the charge compensation of the system in the process of Li+ removal, which is the main reason for the decrease of the theoretical average deintercalation voltage of the system. In addition, the Ge doping reduces the band gap value of the Li2CoSiO4 from 3.7 eV to 2.49 eV, while the Ga doping and the As doping introduce the donor defects, and thus making the doping system exhibit metallic properties, which can improve the conductivity of the system to some extent.

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    Xiao-Tong Yan, Yu-Hua Hou, Shou-Hong Zheng, You-Lin Huang, Xiao-Ma Tao. First-principles study of effects of Ga, Ge and As doping on electrochemical properties and electronic structure of Li2CoSiO4 serving as cathode material for Li-ion batteries [J]. Acta Physica Sinica, 2019, 68(18): 187101-1

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    Paper Information

    Received: Apr. 4, 2019

    Accepted: --

    Published Online: Jun. 28, 2020

    The Author Email:

    DOI:10.7498/aps.68.20190503

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