Lattice, Grain, and Texture: Opportunities for Performance Enhancement of Layered Oxide Cathodes Informed by LiCoO₂

Research on single crystal cathodes has renewed attention on how lattice anisotropy and crystal orientation influence the performance of layered oxides in Li-ion batteries. Using LiCoO₂ as a model system and an archetypical layered oxide cathode material, this review discusses the relationship between crystal structure, defect chemistry, anisotropic physical properties and electrochemical performance. Particular emphasis is placed on the anisotropy of magnetic, ionic and electronic transport, thermal, mechanical, and surface properties along directions parallel and perpendicular to the basal plane of LiCoO₂, with a focus on their crystallographic origins, functional consequences, and dependance on defects such as vacancies, dislocations, and twin boundaries . In the context of common degradation mechanisms and existing modification strategies, this review examines texture engineering as a complementary and deliberate design strategy at both the particle and electrode levels in relation to particle morphology, tortuosity design, and fully dense electrode architectures. Relevant manufacturing approaches, key processing conditions, and critical design parameters are also discussed. By integrating insights from intrinsic properties, degradation behavior, modification strategies and microstructural design, this work provides the foundation for rational texture engineering, which complements existing strategies and enables LiCoO₂ and related layered oxides to approach their ultimate performance in lithium-ion batteries.