Layered oxide cathodes for lithium-ion batteries typically undergo large expansion and contraction during cycling, including a particularly abrupt shrinkage along the c lattice (c-collapse) at high states-of-charge, which limits their lifetime. Here, we suppress the c-collapse in compositionally-simple LiNi_0.9Mn_0.1O₂ by electrochemically inducing partial disorder that is permanently retained throughout the bulk. Our approach leverages irreversible oxygen oxidation in Li-excess Ni-rich oxides to activate partial disordering of the cation sublattice, while preserving the long-range layered structure. By varying the initial Li-excess, we obtain Li-stoichiometric transition metal oxides with tunable cation disorder. Surprisingly, when the concentration of transition metal ions occupying Li sites (TMLi) reaches ≥12%, the c lattice parameter remains nearly invariant during (de)lithiation, reducing chemical strain, preserving microstructural integrity, and extending battery cycle life. The resulting material displays high specific capacity, long-term stability, small voltage hysteresis, and negligible voltage decay. This concept opens the possibility of designing materials by inducing persistent intrinsic disorder electrochemically.

조선일보, 연합뉴스, 디지털타임스, 헤럴드경제, 충남일보, 동아사이언스, 이코노미사이언스, 더테크, 뉴스1, 에너지뉴스, 전자신문 등..