Role of Defects, Pores, and Interfaces in Deciphering the Alkali Metal Storage Mechanism in Hard Carbon

There are several questions and controversies regarding the Na storage mechanism in hard carbon. This springs from the difficulty of probing the vast diversity of possible configurational environments for Na storage, including surface and defect sites, edges, pores, and intercalation morphologies. In the effort to explain the observed voltage...

Doubling Reversible Capacities in Epitaxial Li ₄ Ti ₅ O ₁₂ Thin Film Anodes for Microbatteries

Despite the lower gravimetric capacity, Li ₄ Ti ₅ O ₁₂ is an important alternative to graphite anodes, owing to its excellent high temperature stability, high rate capability, and negligible volume change. Although surfaces with lithium compositions exceeding Li ₇ Ti ₅ O ₁₂...

The Fine Line between a Two-Phase and Solid-Solution Phase Transformation and Highly Mobile Phase Interfaces in Spinel Li_{4+ x}Ti₅O₁₂

Phase transitions play a crucial role in Li-ion battery electrodes being decisive for both the power density and cycle life. The kinetic properties of phase transitions are relatively unexplored and the nature of the phase transition in defective spinel Li₄₊ _xTi₅O₁₂ introduces a controversy as the...