Batteries get weaker with use, slowing fast charging and heavy power use. Scientists are digging deep to make them last longer and work stronger.
Lithium-ion batteries are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and data-driven systems, but they gradually lose performance as their internal materials degrade over time. This degradation limits how long batteries can deliver high power and stable operation, especially under demanding conditions such as fast charging or heavy power delivery. For industries depending on consistent, long-lasting power, this remains a major challenge.
To address this, Brown University’s School of Engineering and Panasonic Energy have launched a joint research program focused on understanding and solving the root causes of material degradation inside lithium-ion batteries. The team will develop advanced analytical tools that can track how materials change during repeated charge and discharge cycles, offering a clearer picture of what drives performance loss at the microscopic level.
The data collected through these methods will directly inform Panasonic Energy’s materials development process. By identifying specific degradation pathways, engineers can design new battery materials that maintain structural integrity and electrochemical stability over longer use. This approach aims to create lithium-ion cells that not only offer higher energy and power density but also operate reliably across a wide range of conditions.
Improving durability will be especially valuable for electric vehicles, where users expect fast charging without losing long-term performance, and for large-scale energy storage systems that must supply consistent power for years. Stable, high-power operation will also benefit backup systems for data centers, which demand both reliability and efficiency.
The collaboration focuses on one of the most pressing problems in energy storage that is battery degradation. By connecting materials science with industrial application, the project seeks to speed up the development of longer-lasting, more reliable batteries that meet the growing global demand for sustainable, high-performance power solutions.
