Crystallographic method unlocks fast ion transport for lithium batteries

A research team from Harbin Institute of Technology, led by Professors Yan Zhang and Shuaifeng Lou, has developed a crystallographic engineering approach to enhance lithium-ion battery performance at sub-zero temperatures. Focusing on titanium niobate (TiNb₂O₇, TNO), a promising anode material known for its safety and structural stability but limited by poor electronic conductivity and slow lithium-ion diffusion, the team introduced dual-element doping with antimony (Sb⁵⁺) and niobium (Nb⁵⁺). This doping, achieved via a single-step solid-state synthesis compatible with industrial processes, fundamentally improved ion and electron transport within the TNO lattice, enabling fast charging and long battery life even at −30 °C. The doped TNO exhibited a reversible phase transformation mechanism during cycling and maintained mechanical integrity after 500 charge-discharge cycles at low temperature, as confirmed by in-situ X-ray diffraction and synchrotron-based nano-computed tomography. This