Lithium-rich layered oxide cathodes have attracted considerable attention due to their high energy density, but have suffered from voltage drop, structural instability, and limited electrical conductivity. In this study, the electrochemical performance of the lithium-rich cathode material Li[Li0.20Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2 was evaluated after modification by zinc doping and composition with graphene oxide or graphene. The zinc-doped powders were synthesized by the sol-gel method, while the graphene-based composites were prepared by the hydrothermal route. The structural, morphological and electrochemical characteristics of the modified materials were examined using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and charge-discharge testing. The co-modified samples exhibited improved lithium-ion diffusion, reduced charge transfer resistance, and increased structural stability. The graphene-zinc oxide composite provided the highest discharge capacity of 302 at 0.1 C, compared to 249 for the unmodified material, and showed a Coulombic efficiency of 89.7%. The synergistic effect of zinc incorporation and graphene-based composition significantly improved rate capability and minimized polarization. These findings demonstrated that combined structural and conductive modifications effectively improved the overall performance of lithium-rich cathodes and offered a promising path to improving next-generation lithium-ion battery systems.
