Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering Team -- Lifespan Challenge for Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

I. Introduction:--Anomalous Phenomenon: Heat-Shrinking ‘Age-Reversing’ Material

In April 2025, researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published groundbreaking research in Nature: lithium-rich manganese cathode materials exhibited a ‘heat-induced contraction’ phenomenon at temperatures between 150°C and 250°C. Their crystal cell volume decreased in reverse, driving the voltage of aged batteries to recover to their initial state. This phenomenon, defying conventional thermal expansion principles, was termed the ‘negative thermal expansion effect’ by the team, providing a physical foundation for extending battery lifespan.

II. Technical Principle: Structural Rebirth from Disorder to Order

Root Cause of Ageing: During charge-discharge cycles, lithium-rich manganese-based materials undergo oxygen-active redox reactions, causing continuous lattice distortion for energy storage. This leads to voltage decay (i.e., ‘ageing’).

Repair Mechanism: Heating triggers atomic rearrangement within the material, restoring disordered structures to ordered states. This releases stored ineffective energy, achieving a ‘rejuvenation’ of battery performance.

Alternative Approach: The team innovatively proposed a ‘shallow charging’ method (charging to 20%-30% capacity), which mimics thermal effects electrochemically, extending cycle life by over 50%.

III. Industrial Value: A Breakthrough for Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

Performance Advantages: This material achieves a discharge capacity of 300 mAh/g—a 30% improvement over conventional lithium batteries—while reducing costs by 20–30%. It is regarded as a pivotal direction for extending electric vehicle range.

Commercialisation Progress: Collaborative development of intelligent management systems with downstream battery manufacturers is underway. Scalable application is anticipated within 3–5 years, accelerating the practical implementation of solid-state battery technology.

IV. Scientific Significance: Paradigm Shift in Interdisciplinary Research

Nature journal hailed this breakthrough as ‘establishing new guiding principles for functional material design.’ Its revelation of the dynamic equilibrium mechanism between oxygen activity and lattice stability not only resolves critical battery challenges but also expands the application potential of negative thermal expansion materials in aerospace, electronics, and other fields.

Conclusion:

From ‘thermal contraction’ to ‘thermal regeneration’, this breakthrough by the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering signifies China's transition from follower to leader in fundamental lithium-ion battery research. Should this technology achieve industrialisation, it may become a pivotal variable in the global energy storage revolution.

I. Introduction:--Anomalous Phenomenon: Heat-Shrinking ‘Age-Reversing’ Material

In April 2025, researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published groundbreaking research in Nature: lithium-rich manganese cathode materials exhibited a ‘heat-induced contraction’ phenomenon at temperatures between 150°C and 250°C. Their crystal cell volume decreased in reverse, driving the voltage of aged batteries to recover to their initial state. This phenomenon, defying conventional thermal expansion principles, was termed the ‘negative thermal expansion effect’ by the team, providing a physical foundation for extending battery lifespan.

II. Technical Principle: Structural Rebirth from Disorder to Order

Root Cause of Ageing: During charge-discharge cycles, lithium-rich manganese-based materials undergo oxygen-active redox reactions, causing continuous lattice distortion for energy storage. This leads to voltage decay (i.e., ‘ageing’).

Repair Mechanism: Heating triggers atomic rearrangement within the material, restoring disordered structures to ordered states. This releases stored ineffective energy, achieving a ‘rejuvenation’ of battery performance.

Alternative Approach: The team innovatively proposed a ‘shallow charging’ method (charging to 20%-30% capacity), which mimics thermal effects electrochemically, extending cycle life by over 50%.

III. Industrial Value: A Breakthrough for Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

Performance Advantages: This material achieves a discharge capacity of 300 mAh/g—a 30% improvement over conventional lithium batteries—while reducing costs by 20–30%. It is regarded as a pivotal direction for extending electric vehicle range.

Commercialisation Progress: Collaborative development of intelligent management systems with downstream battery manufacturers is underway. Scalable application is anticipated within 3–5 years, accelerating the practical implementation of solid-state battery technology.

IV. Scientific Significance: Paradigm Shift in Interdisciplinary Research

Nature journal hailed this breakthrough as ‘establishing new guiding principles for functional material design.’ Its revelation of the dynamic equilibrium mechanism between oxygen activity and lattice stability not only resolves critical battery challenges but also expands the application potential of negative thermal expansion materials in aerospace, electronics, and other fields.

Conclusion:

From ‘thermal contraction’ to ‘thermal regeneration’, this breakthrough by the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering signifies China's transition from follower to leader in fundamental lithium-ion battery research. Should this technology achieve industrialisation, it may become a pivotal variable in the global energy storage revolution.