Air sensitivity remains a substantial barrier to the commercialization of sodium (Na)–layered oxides (NLOs). This problem has puzzled the community for decades because of the complexity of interactions between air components and their impact on both bulk and surfaces of NLOs. We show here that water vapor plays a pivotal role in initiating destructive acid and oxidative degradations of NLOs only when coupled with carbon dioxide or oxygen, respectively. Quantification analysis revealed that reducing the defined cation competition coefficient (η), which integrates the effects of ionic potential and sodium content, and increasing the particle size can enhance the resistance to acid attack, whereas using high-potential redox couples can eliminate oxidative degradation. These findings elucidate the underlying air deterioration mechanisms and rationalize the design of air-stable NLOs.

中文翻译：

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解耦钠层状氧化物的空气敏感性


空气敏感性仍然是钠 (Na) 层状氧化物 (NLO) 商业化的重大障碍。由于空气成分之间相互作用的复杂性及其对 NLO 体积和表面的影响，这个问题几十年来一直困扰着业界。我们在这里表明，只有当分别与二氧化碳或氧气结合时，水蒸气才能在引发 NLO 的破坏性酸和氧化降解中发挥关键作用。定量分析表明，降低定义的阳离子竞争系数（η）（综合了离子势和钠含量的影响）和增加粒径可以增强对酸侵蚀的抵抗力，而使用高电位氧化还原对可以消除氧化降解。这些发现阐明了潜在的空气恶化机制，并使空气稳定 NLO 的设计合理化。