Probing cation intermixing in Li2SnO3

Li2MnO3 holds great promise as a key component for lithium-manganese-rich oxides as high-capacity and high-energy-density cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. However, its structural complexity remains an unresolved puzzle, hindering the further development of this class of cathode materials. In this work, the structure of Li2SnO3 was investigated as a model of Li2MnO3. Specifically, the structural evolution of materials during the solid-state synthesis of Li2SnO3 was studied using in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction. It was confirmed that Li2SnO3 with a C2/c structure was formed using the solid-state process. However, the severe intralayer intermixing between Li and Sn was found to lead to several weakening or vanishing reflection peaks.