Background Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) exhibit high energy and power densities, and thus are used in widespread applications including powering devices such as laptops and cell phones, to more recent applications such as electric cars. However, LIBs suffer from several issues when used at relatively high or low temperatures, mostly due to the nature...

Batteries operate by polarizing and transferring ions through liquid or molecular solvents. Recent developments have made use of organic cation salts in plastic crystalline states as solvents, in which lithium salts can be dissolved. These lithium salts are known as electrolytes. Unfortunately, they are associated with low conductivity. Other electrolytes...

Even though green technologies such as wind and solar are currently dropping in cost, energy storage innovations are still needed to make sustainable energy solutions competitive within the consumer market. Providing a lightweight, high-energy-density power source, rechargeable lithium ion batteries are great for portable electronics. But they quickly...

Background Grid energy storage, at its essence, allows electrical energy to be stored when production exceeds consumption and released when consumption exceeds production. Grid energy storage improves the robustness and resilience of conventional electrical grids and can supplement intermittent energy sources such as solar, wind, or tidal. In particular,...

Background Li-ion batteries allow us to store electrochemical energy efficiently and safely. Indeed, these batteries have revolutionized fields ranging from portable and wearable electronics to grid-scale energy supply. Typically, Li-ion batteries operate by polarizing and transferring lithium ions through organic solvents or gels. Unfortunately, these...