Li-rich layered oxides provide high capacities and relatively high voltages. However, their practical application is limited by rapid capacity fading. One of the main reasons for the capacity fading is the fracturing of the particles during cycling. In this context, polycrystallinity is often regarded as unfavorable because stress concentration at grain boundaries promotes particle fracture. However, this investigation using Li2RuO3 as a representative model for Li-rich cathode materials, unveils counterintuitive results: polycrystallinity, coupled with crystallite and particle size reduction, is an effective strategy to enhance the resistance to fracture. Reducing the particle size and crystallite size alleviates stress at the grain boundaries and prevents intergranular fractures. Moreover, grain boundaries serve as barriers against the propagation of intragrain fractures that initiate within each domain. The suppression of particle fracture in Li2RuO3 improves its capacity retention after 50 cycles from 67 to 95 %.

Created at: 2025-02-23 03:11:31 +0900 Updated at: 2026-10-13 04:31:58 +0900