TRANSITION-METAL DISPLACEMENT IN CATHODIC HOST STRUCTURES UPON LITHIUM INTERCALATION

Reversible intercalation of lithium leads generally to reduction of the transition metal. An instability of the new electronic configuration acquired upon reduction may lead also to its shift to more stable coordination. A transition metal displacement may also take place in order to balance the ionic charge distribution which was disturbed by the reduction (or oxidation) state. These behaviours can explain either the forming (and/or ageing) of cathodic materials or their progressive amorphization.