Introduction: A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a breakthrough in lithium battery research: by harnessing the “heat-induced contraction” property of lithium-rich manganese cathode materials, they have successfully restored the performance of aged batteries. This technology offers new insights for developing more durable and intelligent next-generation lithium batteries.
Core Discovery
Researchers at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, observed that lithium-rich manganese cathode materials undergo structural contraction when heated. This property eliminates internal stresses accumulated during material ageing, restoring the battery voltage to its initial state. This discovery addresses the performance degradation caused by the disordered crystal structure of oxygen-active materials after prolonged use.
Technical Advantages
Structural Restoration: During thermal contraction, atomic arrangements reorder, eliminating lattice distortions caused by ageing and restoring energy release efficiency.
Enhanced Energy Density: Lithium-rich manganese-based materials achieve a discharge capacity of 300 mAh/g, surpassing existing lithium iron phosphate and ternary materials, potentially boosting battery energy density by 30%.
Cost Advantage: Raw material costs are lower than ternary materials and comparable to lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Application Prospects
This technology can be directly applied to high-range-demand scenarios such as electric vehicles and electric aircraft. It is projected to double battery charge-discharge cycle life, addressing the ‘range anxiety’ issue of existing lithium batteries.
This achievement was published in the journal Nature on 16 April 2025, marking a significant breakthrough in China's research and development of high-energy-density lithium batteries.