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A multi-institutional research team led by Georgia Tech's Hailong Chen has developed a new, low-cost cathode that could radically improve lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)—potentially transforming the electric vehicle (EV) market and large-scale energy storage systems.

"For a long time, people have been looking for a lower-cost, more sustainable alternative to existing cathode materials. I think we've got one," said Chen, an associate professor with appointments in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

The revolutionary material, iron chloride (FeCl 3 ), costs a mere 1%–2% of typical cathode materials and can store the same amount of electricity. Cathode materials affect capacity, energy, and efficiency, playing a major role in a battery's performance, lifespan, and affordability.

"Our cathode can be a game-changer," said Chen, whose team describes its work in Nature Sustainability. "It would greatly improve the EV market—and the whole lithium-ion battery market."

First commercialized by Sony in the early 1990s, LIBs sparked an explosion in personal electronics, such as smartphones and tablets. The technology eventually advanced to fuel electric vehicles, providing a reliable, rechargeable, high-density energy source. But unlike personal electronics, large-scale energy users like EVs are especially sensitive to the cost of LIBs.

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