Revisiting the Defect‑Rich Li─Mn─O Structure with Superior Kinetics for High-Power Li-Ion Batteries

Li-rich cathode materials, characterized by dual anionic and cationic redox activities, present a promising pathway to surpass traditional capacity and voltage constraints for high-energy-density batteries. However, the activation of anionic redox often induces lattice oxygen release, precipitating irreversible structural transformations and compromised ion transport dynamics. In this work, a layered-spinel intergrown structure is designed from an ion-exchange process with great tunability, which induces the arrangement of the manganese oxide layer and combines the high-capacity characteristics of the layer structure with superior stability provided by the spinel structure. Benefiting from expanded ion channels, the intergrown structure delivers an initial discharge capacity of 254.3 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C and retains a great high-rate capability of 169.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 C, which is superior to the reported Li-rich manganese-based cathode materials. This work delineates a systematic design framework for layered-spinel intergrown architectures, leveraging their synergistic ion transport characteristics to achieve superior electrochemical performance in lithium-ion batteries.