Lithium ions sprint up to 10,000 times faster when their molecular cages briefly open
Researchers have discovered that lithium ions in solid electrolytes move up to 10,000 times faster when their surrounding molecular cages temporarily open. This finding provides new insights into the mechanics of ion conduction in next-generation battery materials.
Why it matters
Understanding these molecular mechanisms is critical for developing more efficient and faster-charging solid-state batteries for electric vehicles.
by National Institutes of Natural Sciences
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Credit: Journal of the American Chemical Society (2026). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c04713 An international collaborative research group led by Professor Bong June Sung of the Department of Chemistry at Sogang University and Professor Shinji Saito of the Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS), and the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, has elucidated, at the molecular level, how lithium ions move within organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs)—which are attracting attention as solid electrolytes for next-generation batteries.
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