Lithium-rich layered oxides have emerged as promising high-capacity cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to their exceptional energy density. However, their practical application is hindered by intrinsic challenges, including low initial Coulombic efficiency, voltage fade, and poor electronic conductivity. In this study and to mitigate the aforementioned limitations, carbon-based nanostructures, including graphene and carbon nanotubes, were incorporated into Li[Li0.20Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2 cathode via a modified sol-gel method and the resultant composites were structurally and electrochemically examined using different techniques. The results demonstrated that both graphene and carbon nanotubes could enhance charge-transfer kinetics. Compared to pure cathode and the one composited with CNTs, graphene-modified cathode exhibited better cycling performance, delivering a high discharge capacity of 270.5 mAh g−1 after 10 cycles 0.1 C, attributing to significantly reduced charge-transfer resistance and also Warburg impedance ensuing from improved Li⁺ diffusion. Moreover, the cathode composited with graphene reached high rate capability where discharge capacity of 238.5 mAh g−1 at C-rate of 2 C was obtained for this sample.

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