Optimizing Disordered Rock Salt Cathodes by Solid‐State Synthesis and Design of Experiments for Enhanced Battery Performance

Aiming at discovering new positive electrode materials with superior electrochemical performance for application in lithium-ion batteries, this work focuses on the design of fluorine-free, manganese-rich disordered rock salt (DRX) cathodes. Samples with a starting composition of Li$_{1.1}$Mn$_{0.8}$Ti$_{0.1}$O$_{2}$ are successfully prepared by facile solid-state synthesis and further optimized through a design of experiments approach. Several key factors are examined, including carbon type and content as well as lithium (precursor) excess. The tailored DRX/carbon composites, using either graphite or multiwalled nanotubes, are capable of delivering specific capacities of up to 190 mAh g−1 and exhibit high cycling stability, with the capacity retention being greater than 90% after 100 cycles. This study emphasizes the importance of screening key factors in developing next-generation battery materials.