Electrochemically-Formed Disordered Rock Salt ω-Li _x V₉Mo₆O₄₀ as a Fast-Charging Li-Ion Electrode Material

Electrochemically-formed disordered rock salt compounds are an emerging class of Li-ion electrode materials for fast-charging energy storage. However, the specific factors that govern the formation process and the resulting charge storage performance are not well understood. Here, we characterize the transformation mechanism and charge storage properties of an electrochemically-formed disordered rock salt from V₉Mo₆O₄₀ (VMO). The crystal structure of VMO has similar motifs to that of α-V₂O₅, a well-studied analogue, but VMO has less mechanical flexibility due to additional corner-sharing octahedra in its structure. As a result, VMO undergoes a single-step transformation pathway, which we characterize through operando X-ray diffraction, and forms an unusual highly distorted lamellar microstructure, as we show with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The resulting Li _x VMO material shows fast charging and other electrochemical characteristics and performance typical of many nanomaterials, even though the material is composed of relatively large particles.