A range of new materials and technologies could yield vastly improved batteries for purposes including electric vehicles and grid storage.

Improved battery technology has the potential to improve a range of applications, from the flexibility of our power grids, to the durability of consumer electronic devices and functionality of next-generation electric vehicles.

To understand the appeal, it is best to understand how today’s batteries work. Most are constructed with an alkaline metal called lithium, favoured for its ability to store large quantities of electricity. Power is produced when a device is connected to the battery terminals – the cathode and…