Next, we turn to XRD to understand crystallographic evolution during calcination. The relatively low conversion temperature of the TM (oxy)hydroxide precursor and the high temperature at which Li 2 CO 3 reacts (especially in comparison to LiOH) results in the formation of a disordered-rocksalt-like phase prior to lithiation. The XRD pattern in (Figure ) shows that the (001) peak at 19°corresponding to interlayer spacing in the TM (oxy)hydroxide precursor disappears completely by the start of lithiation at 330°C, whereas the peaks corresponding to the underlying anisotropically strained rocksalt-like lattice are maintained. SEM (Figure , inset) shows that the initial lithiated phase at 330°C has similar morphology to the TM (oxy)hydroxide precursor prior to calcination. All of this supports that lithiation is not topotactic with respect to the TM layeres of the precursor, but may be topotactic with respect to the face-centered cubic oxygen lattice.