Metal-ligand redox assisted by strong Cu-O-Mn superexchange interaction in a prototype layered oxide cathode
摘要
The instability of oxygen redox activity in layered oxide cathodes, particularly the formation of localized electron holes on oxygen (O−) and subsequent anion dimerization, has been demonstrated to trigger rapid capacity degradation and severe voltage hysteresis. Our study primarily focuses on P3-type Na2/3Cu1/3Mn2/3O2, which demonstrates reversible oxygen redox with an exceptionally low voltage hysteresis of 0.05 V. Spectroscopic analyses demonstrate a reversible O2−→O− evolution in Na2/3Cu1/3Mn2/3O2 without O–O dimerization. Furthermore, Multilateral non-invasive magnetic methods reveal that strong Cu-O-Mn superexchange interactions during the metal-ligand redox process lead to delocalization of O− species and inhibition of irreversible O–O bonding, thereby enabling ultralow voltage hysteresis. This work establishes magnetic exchange engineering as a transformative strategy to unlock reversible oxygen redox in high-energy battery electrodes.