First-generation
cathodes for commercial lithium-ion batteries
are based on layered transition-metal oxides. Research on ternary
compounds, such as LiCoO2, evolved into mixed-metal systems,
notably Li(Ni,Mn,Co)O2 (NMCs), which allows significant
tuning of the physical properties. Despite their widespread application
in commercial devices, the fundamental understanding of NMCs is incomplete.
Here, we review the latest insights from multiscale modeling, bridging
between the redox phenomena that occur at an atomistic level to the
transport of ions and electrons across an operating device. We discuss
changes in the electronic and vibrational structures through the NMC
compositional space and how these link to continuum models of electrochemical
charge–discharge cycling. Finally, we outline the remaining
challenges for predictive models of high-performance batteries, including
capturing the relevant device bottlenecks and chemical degradation
processes, such as oxygen evolution.