<p>Micro-nanostructured materials exhibit unique physical and chemical properties, making them valuable for both scientific research and technological applications. Particularly, these materials significantly improve the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Spray drying (SD), a facile and scalable synthesis method, provides an effective strategy for the precise design and fabrication of functional nanostructured materials with tailored compositions and morphologies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the application of SD for fabricating key micro-nanomaterials for LIBs. The paper examines the fundamental principles of SD, its historical development in the LIB field, and its current industrial status. The review systematically evaluates strategies for applying SD to enhance the performance of typical LIB cathode and anode materials. Additionally, the inherent advantages and current challenges of SD are comprehensively analyzed. This paper provides valuable theoretical and practical guidance for the advancement of SD in the fabrication of high-performance micro-nanostructured materials for LIBs.</p> Graphic abstract <p></p>