Integrated manufacturing of REciclable multi-material COmposites for the TRANSport sector

An entropy?derived descriptor (Sd) captures relativistic d?orbital delocalization to screen >10 000 compounds, identifying monoclinic HfO2 as a fast?ion host. Flash?Joule?synthesized single?crystal HfO2 enables an ultrathin, thermally stable composite electrolyte (1.23 mS cm?1), realizing 472 Wh kg?1 in practical Ah?level NCM90?Li pouch cells.ABSTRACTAchieving high Li+ conductivity, near?unity transference numbers, and stable interfaces in solid?state electrolytes remains a major challenge for lithium?metal batteries. Here we introduce a radial?effect design principle: relativistic expansion and spin–orbit coupling of 5d orbitals enhance s–d/p–d hybridization, weaken Li–anion interactions, and lower migration barriers. An entropy?based descriptor, Sd, trained and validated with machine learning across >10,000 oxides, sulfides, and halides captures this effect. Machine?learning?guided high?throughput screening flags monoclinic HfO2, whose 5d2 radial expansion lowers migration barriers by ?45% vs Sc2O3 or Y2O3. Guided by this insight, we employ millisecond flash?Joule heating to convert HfO2 into nanosized single crystals, then embed them in a Li?conductive binder to create sc?HfO2@LCB, whose radial coupling yields interconnected Li+ pathways (1.23 mS cm?1, 30°C; tLi + = 0.82, 25°C) and a 4.8 V electrochemical window. Operando Raman/XANES confirms faster Li+ transport. Consequently, 2 Ah LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2?Li pouch cells deliver ?472 Wh kg?1 (stack?level), maintain superior rate capability over hundreds of cycles, and survive 150°C hot?plate tests. These results establish radial?effect engineering as a sophisticated strategy for high?performance, thermally resilient solid?state batteries.

» Publication Date: 24/01/2026

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