Small polaron transport in cathode materials of rechargeable ion batteries

Small polarons are quasi-particles in materials formed by a charge carrier and its self-induced distortion. In cathode materials containing transition metal elements, small polarons play an important role in the diffusion of charge carriers. In order to grasp the fundamentals of small polarons inside cathodes, we highlight the recent progress from both experiments and simulations focusing on the formation of small polarons and their migration.