Self‐Medicating Molten‐Salt Synthesis of Bulk‐Stabilized High‐Energy Cathodes for Li‐Ion Batteries

X Xiaoqiao Li (Department of Chemical Engineering Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Devices Research Center School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China) F Fanxiu Feng (Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education) Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center College of Chemistry Nankai University Tianjin 300071 China) T Taiping Hu (School of Materials Science and Engineering) Y Yong Wang C Chenji Hu (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, in-situ Center for Physical Sciences, Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Device Research Center (SEED) and Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules) J Jingyu Chen Y Yilin Chen (School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School) C Chun Cheng (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) H Han Wang Q Qinfeng Zheng (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, In Situ Center for Physical Sciences, Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Device Research Center (SEED)) Y Yixiao Zhang Y Yu‐Shi He (Department of Chemical Engineering Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Devices Research Center School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China) S Shenzhen Xu (School of Materials Science and Engineering) W Wei Zhang L Liwei Chen (School of Chemistry and Chemical, In situ Center for Physical Science) Z Zi‑Feng Ma L Linsen Li (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, in-situ Center for Physical Sciences, Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Device Research Center (SEED) and Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules)

Abstract

Abstract High‐energy lithium‐ion batteries necessitate stable Ni‐rich layered cathodes, yet critical challenges such as lattice distortion and surface structure collapse remain unresolved. While conventional high‐valence doping greatly alleviates surface degradations, it is ineffective in stabilizing bulk lattice due to dopant segregation. Here, we propose a slightly Li‐rich (SLR) lattice design by partially substituting transition‐metal (TM) ions with Li + ions in TM layers, reducing electrostatic repulsion against high‐valence dopants. Integrated theory‐experiment analyses reveal uniform bulk doping of Mo 6+ in SLR cathodes, realized via a self‐medicating and scalable molten‐salt synthesis route. An optimized high‐energy cathode (880 Wh kg −1 cathode ) achieves 89% retention after 1000 cycles in Ah‐scale pouch cells, sustains 10 C ultrafast charging/discharging for 300 cycles (3.8 min to 80% state‐of‐charge), and operates stably in all‐solid‐state batteries. Multimodal characterizations link uniform Mo 6+ doping to suppressed lattice strain and structural collapse. This work establishes a new paradigm for bulk lattice engineering of advanced battery cathodes.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 44
Published October 27, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (17)

X

Xiaoqiao Li

Department of Chemical Engineering Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Devices Research Center School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China

F

Fanxiu Feng

Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education) Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center College of Chemistry Nankai University Tianjin 300071 China

T

Taiping Hu

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Y

Yong Wang

C

Chenji Hu

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, in-situ Center for Physical Sciences, Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Device Research Center (SEED) and Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules

J

Jingyu Chen

Y

Yilin Chen

School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School

C

Chun Cheng

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

H

Han Wang

Q

Qinfeng Zheng

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, In Situ Center for Physical Sciences, Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Device Research Center (SEED)

Y

Yixiao Zhang

Y

Yu‐Shi He

Department of Chemical Engineering Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Devices Research Center School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China

S

Shenzhen Xu

School of Materials Science and Engineering

W

Wei Zhang

L

Liwei Chen

School of Chemistry and Chemical, In situ Center for Physical Science

Z

Zi‑Feng Ma

L

Linsen Li

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, in-situ Center for Physical Sciences, Shanghai Electrochemical Energy Device Research Center (SEED) and Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules