Physical chemistry and electrochemistry of intercalation in disordered compounds

A brief overview of the intercalation compounds in their disordered state is given to identify limitation of materials used within the field of energy storage. In this paper, we discuss trends in materials design and document the role of the crystalline nature, e.g. amorphous vs. crystallised, of electrode material for lithium batteries. The electrochemical properties are examined in relation with the physical chemistry of materials. Finally, we show the importance of local probes for a well-defined characterisation of the structural features of materials.