The research team at Tongji University has unveiled a groundbreaking 'entropy-driven' strategy to tackle the problem of electrode material pulverization, which arises from repeated volume expansion and contraction during the process of lithium extraction. This innovative approach involves the creation of nanoscale 'buffer zones' within the electrode materials used for lithium extraction. By harnessing the entropy-driven hydrophobic effect, the strategy facilitates the self-assembly of precursors, leading to the construction of a multi-layered core-shell structure with ordered gradient interlayer channels. These channels form nanoscale 'strain buffer zones' that effectively distribute internal stress and establish high-speed pathways for lithium-ion transport. Experimental results have shown that the optimized electrode material exhibits remarkable improvements in high selectivity, high capacity, and long-cycle stability when tested in simulated salt lake brines. This breakthrough provides solid theoretical backing for the efficient exploitation of lithium resources in salt lakes. The research findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) by a team led by Professor Zhang Yalei and Professor Chu Huaqiang from the College of Environmental Science and Engineering at Tongji University. The first author of the study is Liu Xiaoqian, a doctoral student from the Class of 2022.