Structural mechanisms in complex oxides enabling high-rate lithium-ion energy storage

The maximum power output and minimum charging time of a lithium-ion battery depend on mixed ionic–electronic conduction. We show that complex niobium tungsten oxides with frustrated polyhedral arrangements and dense μm-scale particle morphologies can rapidly and reversibly intercalate large quantities of lithium. Analysis of high-rate and multi-electron energy storage will be discussed with insights from operando X-ray diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and multi-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy for the recently reported crystallographic shear structure and bronze-like oxide phases[1]. Materials and mechanisms that enable lithiation of μm particles in minutes have implications for high power applications, fast charging devices, all-solid-state batteries, and general approaches to electrode design and materials discovery.

[1] Griffith, Kent J.; Wiaderek, Kamila M.; Cibin, Giannantonio; Marbella, Lauren E.; Grey, Clare P. Nature, 2018, 559, 556–563.