Scientists develop material that could transform battery technology

Researchers at Saratov State University in Russia have used computer modeling to develop a new material that could increase the charging speed of modern batteries by 1.5 times and boost their capacity fivefold, according to a statement from the Russian Science Society.

Preliminary data indicate that batteries incorporating the material could retain their performance across a wide range of temperatures, potentially paving the way for more advanced power systems for smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles.

In modern batteries, charge storage and discharge are essentially opposing processes linked to the movement of charged particles, particularly lithium ions, within the battery. Charging speed depends on how quickly these ions can move between the electrodes, while battery capacity is determined by the amount of lithium ions an electrode can store.

Materials that serve as charge-storage reservoirs often offer high capacity but can be sensitive to very low or high temperatures. In addition, lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂), a widely used electrode material, can gradually lose its performance after repeated charging and discharging cycles. This degradation can contribute to battery swelling and rapid power loss in smartphones after years of use.

To improve the performance of the battery's storage electrode, the Saratov researchers proposed incorporating graphene, a carbon-based material that can be formed into a layer just one atom thick. Using computer simulations, they found that alternating layers of graphene and LiCoO₂ could produce a more efficient battery material.

The researchers found that a structure containing eight times more LiCoO₂ than graphene by mass provided the most efficient ion transport. In this configuration, lithium-ion mobility was 1.6 times higher than in pure lithium cobalt oxide, potentially enabling significantly faster charging.

The material's capacity also increased by more than fivefold and remained stable across extreme temperatures. According to the study's findings, its performance did not decline when the material was cooled to -40°C or heated to +80°C, highlighting its potential for next-generation batteries designed to operate reliably under challenging conditions.