A multi-institutional team of Chinese chemists, molecular engineers, and materials scientists has found a way to rejuvenate lithium-ion batteries after they lose their recharging ability. Their study is published in the journal Nature.
Lithium-ion batteries have changed the way technology is used over the past several years—they now power smartphones, other portable devices and cars. But one thing they all have in common is their limited lifespan—such batteries can only be recharged a certain number of times. Eventually, they must be discarded and replaced with new batteries. In this new research, the team in China found a way to greatly extend their useful life by injecting them with a batch of special molecules.
The team describes their achievement as a significant challenge, one that involved designing a carrier molecule that could be injected into a dying battery. They noted it had to meet a whole list of requirements, which included dissolving it into an existing battery’s electrolyte without causing problems. They noted it also had to be extremely compatible with all the other materials in the battery.
To find possible candidates, the team used an AI app trained on digitized molecular properties. The molecule they found was LiSO2CF3. In addition to being relatively inexpensive to make, it was found to be compatible with almost every battery currently sold.
The rejuvenation process, the team notes, is easy and straightforward—batches of the molecule are simply injected into the part of the dying battery’s active lithium ions. After doing so, a small amount of gas is discharged and the battery is ready for recharging.
Testing of the rejuvenation technique showed increased battery life from an average of 1,500 cycles to 12,000 cycles. The research team notes that the increase would not only improve performance for users, but would also help reduce the amount of pollutants from discarded batteries that end up in the environment.
More information:
Shu Chen et al, External Li supply reshapes Li deficiency and lifetime limit of batteries, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08465-y
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Rejuvenating lithium-ion batteries by injecting them with a widely compatible carrier molecule (2025, February 24)
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