Part 5/9:
The research team constructed two versions of the cathode material: one with a gradient distribution of metals and another with a uniform distribution. Using advanced technologies, including high-powered machinery and synchrotron light sources, they meticulously observed the materials’ behaviors in different conditions.
Interestingly, the findings revealed that in samples with a layered configuration, cracks initiated deep within the material and spread outward—contrary to the expected behavior of starting from the surface. In contrast, uniformly distributed metal samples showed minimal cracking, suggesting that the material’s microstrains, influenced by the production process, significantly contributed to the cracking issue.