Coordination Chemistry Modulation of LaFeO₃ as a Promising Anode Material for Nickel-Metal Batteries

Perovskite oxide LaFeO₃ (LFO) has emerged as a highly promising anode material for nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries, owing to its friendly characteristics and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, the practical application of LFO in Ni-MH batteries faces two major limitations: insufficient electronic conductivity and unsatisfactory specific capacity. To address these issues, the aluminum (Al) and cobalt (Co) doped LaFeO₃ materials are synthesized in this contribution via high-temperature solid state reactions. The doping of Al and Co enhances the covalent interaction between the 3p orbitals of the dopants and the O_2p orbitals, facilitating electron migration and thereby improving the material's electrical conductivity, which in turn enhances its discharge performance. After Al and Co modification, the maximum discharge capacity of LFO increased from 178.8 to 314.8 mAh g⁻¹, while the high-rate discharge performance (HRD) improved from 11.2% to 66.1%. Moreover, after 100 cycles, the discharge capacity reached 223 mAh g⁻¹, significantly higher than that of the undoped sample (98 mAh g⁻¹). This work proposes an effective strategy to enhance the electrochemical performance of materials by employing doping to shorten electron transport pathways and improve electrical conductivity.