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Chemical heterogeneity for battery materials

Nature Reviews Chemistry (2026)Cite this article

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Abstract

Next-generation rechargeable batteries require materials that offer enhanced electrochemical capabilities. Achieving these goals depends on understanding the fundamental principles governing these materials, which presents challenges associated to the complex interactions between composition, structural characteristics and electrochemical performance in battery materials. Despite intensive research, progress remains limited regarding effective strategies to mitigate the degradation of fragile alkali-metal-deficient frameworks arising from lattice stress and structural or chemo-mechanical instability upon cycling. In this Review, we explore the importance of chemical heterogeneity in rechargeable battery materials. We discuss how heterogeneity at atomic scale, nano-domains and up to phase-segregated levels within particles can enhance the electrochemical properties of battery materials beyond those of their homogeneous counterparts. Introducing chemical heterogeneity, principles and mechanisms can be unlocked to develop materials with improved structural stability, ion conductivity, redox activity, and phase transition characteristics, driving progress in battery technology. Finally, we outline the challenges and strategies for developing the future battery materials.

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Fig. 1: Categories of chemical heterogeneity and their effects on battery materials.
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Fig. 2: Chemical heterogeneity at the atomic scale.
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Fig. 3: Chemical heterogeneity at nano-domains.
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Fig. 4: Chemical heterogeneity at phase segregations.
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Fig. 5: Kinetics-induced chemical heterogeneity.
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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge support from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (22579078 and 52572281), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2026A1515012175 and 2026A1515012386), and Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation in Basic Research Fund (JCYJ20250604144220026).

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Chenglong Zhao, Xia Zhang.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shenzhen Key Lab of Energy Materials for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China

    Chenglong Zhao

  2. Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China

    Xia Zhang & Qidi Wang

  3. Electrical Energy Storage Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Xia Zhang

  4. Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, China

    Zhou Jin & Xuejie Huang

  5. State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

    Zhenpeng Yao

  6. Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands

    Marnix Wagemaker

  7. Key Laboratory for Renewable Energy, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Hong Li & Xuejie Huang

  8. School of Shenzhen International Graduate, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China

    Baohua Li

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  5. Marnix Wagemaker
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  6. Hong Li
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  7. Baohua Li
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  8. Xuejie Huang
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  9. Qidi Wang
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Contributions

Q.W. conceived the idea and designed the framework of the article. All authors contributed to the discussion and researched data for the manuscript. Q.W., X. Z. and C.Z. prepared and reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hong Li, Baohua Li, Xuejie Huang or Qidi Wang.

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Nature Reviews Chemistry thanks Haegyeom Kim and the other, anonymous, reviewers for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Zhao, C., Zhang, X., Jin, Z. et al. Chemical heterogeneity for battery materials. Nat Rev Chem (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-026-00821-y

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