Researchers from Dundee and Warwick universities report a breakthrough in understanding how lithium-ion batteries store and release energy, revealing that oxygen plays an active role during charging and discharging, especially in layered oxide cathodes.

The study compares two main cathode chemistries—phosphates and layered oxides—and finds significant oxygen involvement in the layered oxides, with implications for faster charging, longer life, and improved safety.

Dr. Hrishit Banerjee of Dundee stresses that deciphering atomic‑level processes is essential for translating fundamental science into real-world battery performance and longevity.

The findings are published in Nature Nanotechnology, signaling a peer‑reviewed validation and a potential leap forward for next‑generation energy storage.

Full findings are published in Nature Nanotechnology, underscoring the credibility and potential impact on future battery design and diagnostics.

The study’s results in Nature Nanotechnology indicate a new framework for battery design, shifting focus toward the redox behavior of oxygen rather than solely metal-centered activity.

The research emphasizes a shift from metal-centered activity to broader oxygen redox behavior in battery materials, which could guide the development of next‑generation cathodes.