Revealing multiscale competing processes in the solid-state synthesis of single-crystalline layered oxide positive electrodes.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41832147.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-70607-9.
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Abstract
Solid-state synthesis involves a web of coupled chemical reactions and physical changes that unfold across multiple scales. Efforts to fine-tune its parameters have historically followed heuristic, trial-driven workflows that demand significant time and resources. In this study, we aimed to open this black box by employing multiscale in situ synchrotron imaging and diffraction. Using LiNi<sub>0.5</sub>Mn<sub>0.3</sub>Co<sub>0.2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> battery positive electrode material as a model system and Ba-based sintering aids, we reveal dopant segregation, intergranular mass transport, and porosity evolution as key drivers of single-crystalline particle formation. Notably, we uncovered a dynamic competition between particle-level grain coalescence and atomic-scale cation disordering, both of which are thermally activated yet have opposing impacts on battery performance. These findings highlight the coupled, multiscale nature of structure development and offer a mechanistic basis for optimizing the solid-state synthesis process. This framework provides a path toward more controlled, efficient, and scalable production of high-performance battery positive electrode materials.