Structural regulation-induced Li-electron disentanglement for stabilized oxygen redox of Li-excess disordered rock-salt cathode materials

Since the discovery of its electrochemical activity, Li-excess disordered rock-salt (DRX) cathode material has received worldwide attention as it sets up a new way to exploit oxygen redox beyond the conventional layered structure with late-3d transition metals. However, the intricate structure-function relationship in the disordered lattice of the DRX material fogs the researcher's lens on the underlying redox mechanisms. In this study, we employ a synergistic approach combining neutron total scattering with reverse Monte Carlo modeling and density functional theory calculations to unravel the landscape of oxygen redox reactions in DRX. Redox activities are evaluated in diverse oxygen clusters (OLi_xTM_6−x) and the spatial distribution of these clusters in the model DRX structure (Li_1.16Ti_0.37Ni_0.37Nb_0.1O₂ and Li_1.2Ti_0.35Ni_0.35Nb_0.1O_1.8F_0.2) is explicitly determined. The results unveil that by regulating the short-range ordering between cations, fluorine atoms can effectively decouple the location of Li extraction and electron depletion. Such disentanglement between the Li reservoir and electron reservoir in the DRX lattice could play a pivotal role in protecting the oxidized oxygen and preserving the lattice framework during cycling. Through a tentatively designed non-fluorinated DRX oxide realizing similar Li-electron decoupling, an obvious enhancement of the cycling capability can be achieved without compromising the capacity release.