Visualization and quantification of lattice strain in battery cathode particles through electron backscatter diffraction imaging

Lattice strain critically affects electrochemical performance and durability of battery electrode materials. Here we report an electron-backscatter-diffraction-based imaging method to quantify lattice strain evolution and its spatial heterogeneity in two technologically important layered oxide cathodes (i.e. positive electrodes). Quantitative analysis is achieved by examining numerical distribution of the crystal misorientation data from thousands of positive electrode particles, which follows a positively skewed distribution. We reveal pronounced lattice strain heterogeneities both within individual grains and across different particles. These strain variations self-heal during relithiation but intensify with deeper delithiation and repeated cycling. The increased strain impedes Li-ion bulk diffusion, thereby limiting the maximum accessible capacity, especially at high current densities. Three-dimensional pole-figure analysis further identifies layer bending and layer twisting as the two major lattice distortion modes in the electrochemically cycled positive electrode particles. The accumulation of the unrecoverable layer bending governs the kinetically controlled capacity loss in the layered oxide positive electrodes. Lattice strain impacts battery cathode performance and cycle life. Here, authors visualize and quantify strain in layered oxides through electron backscatter diffraction imaging, revealing heterogeneous, cycle-dependent distortions that slow Li transport and limit capacity, with irreversible layer bending driving capacity fade.