Ultra-fast charging EVs: New anodes deliver long-lasting batteries

Researchers at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin have developed innovative anode materials for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries that enable ultra-fast charging, enhanced stability, and long service life. Contrary to traditional battery materials that rely on highly ordered crystal structures, the team demonstrated that introducing targeted atomic disorder improves ionic conductivity and cycling stability. This approach, detailed in studies published in Nature Communications and Advanced Materials, involves creating structural disorder in niobium-tungsten oxides and controlled amorphisation in iron niobate, resulting in batteries that retain a large portion of their capacity even after thousands of charge cycles. Specifically, the new lithium-ion battery anodes maintain high performance beyond 1,000 cycles, while the sodium-ion anodes—offering a more environmentally friendly alternative—show exceptional durability with over 2,600 cycles and nearly unchanged capacity. The sodium-ion anode features an amorphous phase with short-range ordered zigzag-chain structures that facilitate efficient ion storage and diffusion. This breakthrough challenges conventional