Liverpool team uses AI for battery breakthrough

Described in the journal Science, the material was designed to act as a solid electrolyte in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. According to the Liverpool team, it is comprised of non-toxic Earth-abundant elements, and delivers high enough conductivity to replace the liquid electrolytes in current Li-ion battery technology.

The solid-state electrolyte is based on a Li₇Si₂S₇I chemistry with an interconnected set of 15 crystallographically separate lithium sites of varying geometries. It’s claimed this provides a diverse path of conduction pathways for lithium ions, and therefore high conductivity.

“This research demonstrates the design and discovery of a material that is both new and functional,” said Professor Matt Rosseinsky, from Liverpool University’s Department of Chemistry. “The structure of this material changes previous understanding of what a high-performance solid-state electrolyte looks like.

“Specifically, solids with many different environments for the mobile ions can perform very well, not just the small number of solids where there is a very narrow range of ionic environments. This dramatically opens up the chemical space available for further discoveries.”