MIT scientists discover how to make batteries charge faster

Researchers at MIT have made a discovery that could lead to significantly faster-charging electric cars and devices.

The breakthrough relates to the fundamental reaction at the core of all lithium-ion batteries .

These batteries, which power everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles, work by shuttling tiny particles called lithium ions in and out of solid electrodes, a process repeated thousands of times over a battery’s lifetime.

The speed of this reaction determines how quickly a battery charges and how much energy it can deliver.

Until now, engineers have largely relied on trial and error when trying to improve batteries. The common theory, based on a century-old equation, didn’t fully explain why different materials produced such inconsistent results.

MIT’s