Next-Generation Battery Research

Carbonate-based electrolytes struggle to meet performance requirements of emerging electrode materials (Si, high Ni, high voltage, Mn-rich, Na-ion). Most alternatives fail to meet scalability requisites for mass-market applications and remain an R&D exercise, such that industry continues to rely on carbonates. Here we present new electrolytes that solve long-withstanding performance issues with legacy electrolytes, while being scalable to TWh capacity, and thus helping enable a new generation of battery technology.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) offer high energy density but suffer from rapid degradation driven by lithium loss. Using time-resolved characterization, we reveal how cycling conditions shape lithium morphology, SEI chemistry, and lithium inventory. Fast charging accelerates solvent-driven SEI growth and inactive Li° accumulation, reducing active Li and increasing safety risks. In contrast, slow charging combined with fast discharging forms a stable, salt-derived SEI and enhances reversibility. The coupled evolution of SEI and inactive Li, dictated by interfacial kinetics and solvation, provides key insights for designing durable, high-performance LMBs.

 All solid state batteries could potentially address the safety and driving range requirements necessary for widespread adoption of electric vehicles. However, the power densities of all-solid-state batteries are limited because of ineffective ion transport at solid|solid interfaces. New insight into the governing physics that occur at intrinsic and extrinsic interfaces are critical for developing engineering strategies for the next generation of energy dense batteries. This talk will discuss the role microstructure plays on transport and interfacial properties that govern adhesion. 

Sulphur electrodes have been considered the next-generation electrodes for higher-energy-density Li-metal batteries due to their high specific capacity compared to conventional transition-metal-based cathodes. In this talk, we report a novel design of sulphur electrodes with minimal polysulphide issues and improved cycle life.

The development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries requires cathodes that combine high energy density, durability, and safety. We present two complementary innovations that overcome the voltage–stability–sustainability trade-off: (1) a Ni-rich dual-gradient framework enabling stable cycling up to 4.7 V without capacity fading, and (2) a low-Ni (<0.6) integrated structure achieving Ni-rich-level capacity with superior stability and reduced metal dependency. Together, these designs deliver high capacity, negligible voltage fade, and excellent thermal tolerance, establishing a new paradigm for sustainable, high-energy cathode materials.

Development of advanced US-patented cathode materials is critical to establishing next-generation domestic energy storage technologies. Wildcat will highlight breakthrough performance of high energy, low cost, and cobalt-and nickel-free Disordered Rocksalt (DRX) cathodes. Wildcat has significantly improved performance in cycle life, voltage fade, and resistance growth while maintaining high energy density. The material has also been demonstrated with roll to roll coating and multi-layer pouch cells.  This work provides promising performance of DRX cathodes—such that US cell manufacturers should add this material to their product roadmaps.

Lithium-ion transport in cathodes depends on interfacial properties of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode electrolyte interface (CEI), at around 10 nm the composition/thickness highly impact impendence while protecting while protecting against cascading parasitic reactions with the electrolyte that can evolve species, such as hydrofluoric acid. CEI characterization in structure, composition, and bonding were completed using multiscale cryogenic electron microscopy. Millimeter-scale cross-sections through intact coin cell batteries and nanoscale mapping were used to visualize degradation in electrodes such as cracks in cathode particles, gas evolution, inconsistencies in electrode coating layers, dead lithium, torn separators, and substantial SEI evolution.

Achievable power is central to battery state of health (SOH), encompassing capacity and conductance losses over life. However, testing multiple power conditions during battery aging involves considerable extra expense. To address this need, INL created the Smart Pulse Diagnostic Tool. Based on analysis of a simple, single, short pulse per cell, a wealth of power behavior is predicted over a wide range of cycling conditions, accounting for temperature affects from joule heating.  Analysis of such pulses over time allows determination of power envelopes over aging, giving a powerful decision-making tool for aligning battery chemistries to applications under targeted field conditions.

Advanced nanocarbons such as carbon nanotubes and graphene can play a key role in improving energy storage technologies, enhancing energy density, charge rates, and cycle life in both lithium-ion and next-generation batteries. Supply chains are becoming established for these nanocarbon materials with early leaders emerging as partnerships are announced. Despite this initial progress, challenges remain surrounding material consistency and standardisation across the supply chain with several battery players turning to vertically integrated supply chains to avoid undue risks. IDTechEx has covered the nanocarbon market for 15 years, and this talk will discuss historic trends in nanocarbon supply chains, current bottle necks and a future outlook based on continuously increasing production capacity.

Synchrotron-based X-rays enable multiscale characterization of battery materials, spanning atomic to mesoscopic length scales, with sensitivity to microstructure, chemistry, and morphology. At the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), we have established a suite of X-ray tools for operando battery research. We are now applying these capabilities to zinc-based aqueous batteries for long-duration, grid-scale energy storage. Using operando synchrotron methods at SSRL, we are directly tracking degradation phenomena such as dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution on the anode through X-ray microscopy. These results elucidate the underlying failure mechanisms in Zn-based aqueous systems and inform strategies to enhance their stability and performance.

Entropy and disorder are typically viewed as negative factors in rocking-chair (de)intercalation-based lithium ion battery systems. However, entropy and disorder can be harnessed for significant benefit in beyond lithium-ion batteries utilizing new materials and energy storage modalities, as will be highlighted in this presentation.

Tyfast is advancing lithium-ion batteries for heavy-duty, mining, construction, and defense applications with a proprietary vanadium oxide anode. Our cells deliver ultra-fast charging (<6 minutes to 80% SOC), long life (>10,000 cycles), and reliable performance under extreme conditions, including –60 °C operation, zero-volt stability, and high-rate discharge above 45 C. We are also developing next-generation vanadium oxide anodes to enable higher energy density cells, broadening the impact of this technology.