Symmetry-Induced Emergent Electrochemical Properties for Rechargeable Batteries

The functionality of most functional materials is determined by their structures, and rechargeable batteries are no exception. However, they differ from conventional functional materials for material exchanges and structural evolutions during dynamic electrochemical processes. Many fascinating electrochemical phenomena emerge in the electrode and solid electrolyte materials because of distinctive structural features. Symmetry, as one of the basic concepts in material science, provides a promising perspective to decipher the intrinsic code of the correlations between material structures and the electrochemical properties. In this paper, the concepts of symmetry and symmetry breaking are introduced, followed by an analysis of some typical examples where various effects on the electrochemical behaviors of battery materials are induced by symmetry. Discussion and outlook are also provided, which may benefit further studies.