Bumpy graphite anodes could help batteries cope with cold
Lithium-ion batteries have transformed the modern world and are crucial to the energy transition, but they don’t do well in the cold.
When temperatures fall below freezing, phones have to be charged more frequently, and electric cars lose some of their range.
This is because the anodes of their lithium-ion batteries hold less charge and drain energy more quickly. Now, researchers have developed a new type of anode, replacing the traditional graphite with a bumpy carbon-based material that maintains its storage capacity down to -35C.