Molten salt enables powerful cobalt-free lithium-ion battery tech

Researchers at McGill University, in collaboration with teams from the U.S. and South Korea, have developed a novel two-step molten salt synthesis method to produce disordered rock-salt (DRX) cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. This approach enables the mass production of uniform, highly crystalline DRX particles under 200 nanometers without the need for grinding or post-processing, overcoming previous manufacturing challenges. The resulting cathodes demonstrate significantly improved battery performance, retaining 85% capacity after 100 charge-discharge cycles—more than double the durability of DRX cathodes made by conventional methods. Importantly, these DRX cathodes eliminate the need for cobalt and nickel, metals that are costly, environmentally problematic, and ethically controversial due to mining practices and supply chain volatility. The scalable, energy-efficient molten salt process thus offers a promising path toward cheaper, greener, and more sustainable lithium-ion batteries suitable for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. The research, supported by Stanford’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory