Texture Evolution in Polycrystal Layered Oxide Cathode Particles for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Crystallographic texture is common in polycrystalline materials and has an important influence on the physicochemical performance of the materials. In this work, using the electron backscatter diffraction technique, the orientation distribution map of individual battery cathode particles was plotted. Through a combination of multiscale characterization approaches, the morphology, structure, chemical composition, and orientation information within individual secondary particles can be captured simultaneously. The pristine secondary particles have a pronounced out-of-plane texture, which results in the inhomogeneity of strain within the particles. Such inhomogeneous strain is associated with the crack formation and growth of secondary particles during delithiation, which further influence their electrochemical–mechanical behaviors. These findings elucidate the underlying texture evolution within polycrystal cathode particles and shed light on the mechanism of performance degradation.