X-rays uncover a hidden property that leads to failure in a lithium-ion battery material

X-ray experiments at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have revealed that the pathways lithium ions take through a common battery material are more complex than previously thought. The results correct more than two decades worth of assumptions about the material and will help improve battery design, potentially leading to a new generation of lithium-ion batteries.

“As it turns out, these extra pathways are problematic for the material, promoting the popcorn-like behavior that leads to its failure,” Chueh said. “If lithium can be made to move more slowly on the surface, it will make the battery much more uniform. This is the key to developing higher performance and longer lasting batteries.”

The research results are published in this article.

Read the full article at Stanford News.