Lithium manganese rich (LMR) cathodes present a compelling energy density advantage for electric vehicle batteries, offering up to 280 mAh/g specific capacity compared to 170-180 mAh/g in conventional cathodes. However, these materials suffer from persistent voltage fade during cycling—typically dropping from 3.7V to below 3.0V after 100-200 cycles—reducing the battery's energy density and complicating state-of-charge management in real-world EV applications.

The fundamental challenge lies in balancing the initial high capacity of LMR cathodes with long-term voltage stability throughout thousands of charge-discharge cycles.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including atomic layer deposition of aluminum protective coatings, controlled charging protocols with specific voltage thresholds, composite structures with manganese-rich surface layers, and novel lithium-yttrium oxide materials with surface modifications. These and other approaches demonstrate practical pathways to mitigate voltage fade while preserving the energy density advantages that make LMR cathodes attractive for next-generation electric vehicles.

1. Lithium-Rich Manganese-Based Cathode Activation via Controlled Charging Conditions with Specific Voltage Thresholds and Current Density Management

TIANJIN GUOAN MENGGULI NEW MATERIAL TECH CO LTD, 2023

Activating lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries through controlled charging conditions to optimize capacity and voltage stability. The method involves selectively charging the material at specific voltage thresholds, selecting appropriate charging modes, and controlling the charging current density to balance capacity enhancement and voltage plateau stabilization. This approach enables the development of cathode materials with higher energy density and improved stability compared to conventional manganese-based cathodes.

2. Lithium-Ion Battery Positive Electrode with Lithium-Rich Manganese Solid Solution

BEIJING WEILAN NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2021

A lithium-ion battery positive electrode with enhanced safety and capacity through a novel solid solution of lithium-rich manganese compounds. The solid solution, comprising lithium-rich manganese-based compounds, provides improved thermal stability and resistance to extreme conditions like overcharging and high temperatures, while maintaining the balance of lithium ions. This solid solution-based positive electrode enables the battery to operate safely under conditions that would otherwise compromise its performance.

3. Lithium-Ion Battery with Lithium Manganese Nickel Oxide Electrode and Dimethyl Carbonate Solvent

SHOWA DENKO MATERIALS CO LTD, Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd., 2021

Lithium-ion battery with enhanced cycle life through optimized electrolyte chemistry. The battery features a positive electrode with lithium manganese nickel composite oxide as the active material, where the electrolyte contains dimethyl carbonate as a non-aqueous solvent. This combination provides superior oxidation resistance and decomposition resistance, particularly when high-potential lithium manganese nickel oxide is used. The battery achieves improved charge-discharge characteristics by setting the end-of-charge voltage at 3.7V or less, which prevents potential issues with electrode degradation during charging.

4. Composite Cathode Active Material with Layered Core and Manganese-Rich Coating for Lithium-Ion Batteries

SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD, 2020

A composite cathode active material for lithium-ion batteries that enhances performance at lower voltages while maintaining high capacity. The material comprises a core containing a first lithium transition metal oxide with a specific layered crystalline structure and a coating layer on the core surface. The coating layer contains a second lithium transition metal oxide with varying composition, including a manganese-rich phase or lithium-rich phases. The composite material is prepared through a heat treatment process that selectively preserves the residual lithium from the core surface, while the second transition metal oxide layer is formed on the core surface. This approach enables the material to maintain its high capacity characteristics at lower voltages while preventing degradation from excessive lithium exposure.

5. Lithium-Ion Battery with Lithium Manganese-Based Positive Electrode and Vinylene Carbonate Additive

NINGDE CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2019

Lithium-ion battery with enhanced safety, cycle life, and storage performance through optimized electrode design. The battery incorporates a lithium manganese-based positive electrode active material in its core, while the electrolyte solution contains a specific additive comprising vinylene carbonate. This additive enhances the lithium-ion intercalation process by stabilizing the lithium-ion insertion position at high temperatures, thereby maintaining capacity and preventing degradation. The battery achieves superior performance characteristics compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, particularly at elevated temperatures.

CN110265721A-patent-drawing

6. NCA Ternary Battery with High Nickel-Rich Lithium Manganese-Based Solid Solution Cathode Material Incorporating Cr, Co, Ni, Ni-Co, Ni-Mn, Ni-Co-Mn, Ni-Co-Al, Fe, and Ru

ANHUI ANKAI AUTOMOBILE CO LTD, 2019

NCA ternary battery with high nickel-rich lithium manganese-based solid solution cathode material that addresses the performance limitations of current NCA cathodes. The battery combines the advantages of high-temperature stable, cost-effective NCA cathodes with enhanced cycle life and rate capability. The cathode material comprises a high-yield lithium-rich manganese-based solid solution, where the manganese content accounts for at least 10% of the total weight, and incorporates Cr, Co, Ni, Ni-Co, Ni-Mn, Ni-Co-Mn, Ni-Co-Al, Fe, and Ru. This composition enables superior performance characteristics, including high capacity, good thermal stability, and safety, while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of NCA cathodes.

CN109546115A-patent-drawing

7. Manganese-Based Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Material with Specific Surface Area and Molecular Composition

GEELY HOLDING GROUP CO LTD, 2018

Lithium-ion battery cathode material with enhanced specific energy density and improved safety through a novel manganese-based cathode. The material achieves high capacity while maintaining high rate performance and first coulombic efficiency. The cathode material has a specific surface area of 0.37 m^2/g and a molecular formula of Li2Mn3.5LiNio.5Mn0.5O4.5LiNio.5Mn0.5O2, enabling efficient charge and discharge cycles while minimizing volume expansion. The material's unique composition and processing conditions enable superior battery performance compared to conventional cathodes.

8. Lithium-Ion Battery with Manganese-Based Solid Solution Cathode for Enhanced Energy Density

NANJING AMPRIUS CO LTD, 2017

Lithium-ion battery with enhanced energy density through a novel cathode material approach. The battery achieves significant capacity gains by replacing traditional cathode materials with lithium-rich manganese-based solid solutions, which exhibit unique crystal structures that facilitate lithium migration during charging. The solid solutions enable higher lithium intercalation capacities and improved Coulomb efficiency compared to conventional materials, while maintaining structural integrity during charging. The battery achieves high energy density (708 Wh/L at 500 cycles) with excellent capacity retention (82.1% at 500 cycles) and volume retention (693 Wh/L at 500 cycles).

9. Lithium-Ion Battery with Graphene-Based Composite Cathode Incorporating Conductive Agent and Polyacrylonitrile Binder

HEFEI GUOXUAN HIGH-TECH POWER ENERGY CO LTD, 2017

A lithium-ion battery that improves voltage stability by leveraging a novel cathode design featuring a conductive agent and graphene-based composite structure. The cathode comprises a lithium-rich cathode material, a conductive agent, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and a polyacrylonitrile-based binder. The negative electrode material is made from a composite of a conductive agent, a porous separator, and a binder. This innovative cathode design addresses the voltage stability issues typically associated with lithium-rich cathode materials. The battery's overall performance is enhanced through the optimized cathode structure, which enables improved capacity retention and cycle life.

10. Mixed Positive Electrode Active Material with Lithium Manganese Oxide and Lower Voltage Lithium Cobalt Oxide for Lithium-Ion Batteries

LG CHEM LTD, 2017

A mixed positive electrode active material for lithium-ion batteries that enhances output in both high and low state-of-charge (SOC) regions. The material combines a high-capacity lithium manganese oxide (Li4Mn5O12) with a second positive electrode active material that has a lower operating voltage than the manganese oxide. The second material, which can be a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), provides stability and improved performance in the low SOC region, while the manganese oxide maintains high output characteristics in both regions.

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11. Cathode Material with In-Situ Synthesized Li2MnO3 Cladding Layer for Lithium-Ion Batteries

HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 2016

A novel cathode material for lithium-ion batteries that enhances cycle life through in-situ synthesis of Li2MnO3. The material comprises a Li2MnO3 cladding layer and lithium-ion battery precursors on the surface, where the Li2MnO3 layer is synthesized through controlled in-situ reaction with the precursors. This coating method enables uniform and electrochemically active Li2MnO3 deposition on the cathode surface, addressing common issues in lithium-ion battery cathode materials such as short cycle life, low capacity, and voltage instability.

12. Lithium-Ion Battery Utilizing Spinel-Type Lithium Manganese Oxide with Two-Stage Sintering and Cryostatic Annealing

HUNAN SHANSHAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Hunan Shanshan Energy Technology Co., Ltd., 2016

Lithium-ion battery with enhanced voltage density through controlled sintering and post-annealing of spinel-type lithium manganese oxide. The battery achieves high compaction density through a two-stage process involving high-temperature sintering followed by cryostatic annealing. This approach ensures precise control over the lattice oxygen penetration and oxygen defect elimination, enabling the formation of high-performance spinel-type lithium manganese oxides with superior cycle stability and voltage density.

13. Composite Positive Electrode Material with Layered and Spinel Lithium Manganese Oxides

OH SONG TAEK, 2016

Positive electrode material for lithium-ion batteries that combines the high capacity of layered lithium manganese oxides with the stability of spinel-based lithium manganese oxides. The material comprises a mixed active material comprising lithium manganese oxide having a layered structure exhibiting high capacity at high voltages and spinel-based lithium manganese oxide for the 3V range, with a controlled ratio of the two materials.

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