Cracking the Code: Scientists Unravel Battery Mystery for Better Performance and Longer Life.

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have characterized the chemical processes occurring at the electrodes of lithium-ion batteries. Through simulations, they discovered that the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) does not form directly at the electrode but instead accumulates in the solution. The passivation layer on the anode surface is crucial to the electrochemical capacity and lifetime of a lithium-ion battery because it is highly stressed with every charging cycle. The KIT researchers' findings pave the way for optimizing the performance and lifetime of future batteries.