⚡️Scientists from Skoltech have analyzed and systematized the mechanisms for the controlled formation of multilayer structures of alkali metals inside carbon anodes. This fundamental knowledge forms the basis for a new generation of batteries with ultrafast charging and record-high energy density. The research results have been published in the leading scientific journal Small.

For years, ions were believed to form only single-atom layers in a battery’s carbon material, such as graphite. Recent research is radically changing this paradigm. Scientists have demonstrated that with the help of new technology, stable multilayer “sandwiches” could be made not only of lithium, but also of other, more accessible metals, such as sodium, in various forms of carbon — from ordered graphene to disordered hard carbon and specially designed carbon spheres.

“Our study breaks new ground in energy materials science,” the lead author of the paper, Senior Research Scientist Ilya Chepkasov from Skoltech’s Energy Transition Center, commented. “We have systematized the facts proving that nature allows us to ‘pack’ ions into carbon much more densely than was previously believed possible. The key lies in designing the carbon carrier by creating atomic channels in graphite, controlling the size of nanopores in hard carbon, or introducing open mesochannels into carbon spheres. Each of these architectures directs ions along an optimal path, enabling the formation of stable multilayered structures that account for this exceptional performance.”

The results of the work outline a clear path — from laboratory discovery to industrial production. Already today, methods such as "molecular tunneling" for modifying graphite or the synthesis of hard carbon from biomass allow for the creation of working prototypes. However, for mass implementation, a complex of tasks remains to be solved, such as the development of advanced computer modeling and AI methods for accurately predicting material properties, the improvement of experimental techniques for observing processes inside a working battery at the atomic level, and the optimization of synthesis processes to reduce their cost and enable scaling.

“We already understand the physical principles behind this discovery, and scientists working in the field have the first working specimens ready. In the next phase, we need to transition from unique lab samples to cost-effective, reliable industrial production. Combining computational science, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and chemical synthesis provides a toolkit for translating this breakthrough research into commercial products that will shape the future of energy,” said Alexander Kvashnin, a co-author of the study and a professor at the Energy Transition Center of Skoltech.

Research in the field of multilayer ion intercalation is a strategic direction for overcoming the main limitations of modern battery technology. These studies could result in a new generation of energy storage devices offering high capacity, superfast charging, enhanced safety, and lower cost which will accelerate the transition to clean energy.

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