Two breakthrough studies track the nanoscale structural
changes that degrade battery performance during cycles of charge and discharge
Batteries do not age gracefully. The lithium ions that power
portable electronics cause lingering structural damage with each cycle of
charge and discharge, making devices from smartphones to tablets tick toward
zero faster and faster over time. To stop or slow this steady degradation,
scientists must track and tweak the imperfect chemistry of lithium-ion
batteries with nanoscale precision.