Scientists discover how oxygen loss saps a lithium-ion battery’s voltage: Measuring the process in unprecedented detail gives them clues to how to minimize the problem and protect battery performance
When lithium ions flow in and out of a battery electrode during charging and discharging, a tiny bit of oxygen seeps out and the battery’s voltage — a measure of how much energy it delivers — fades an equally tiny bit. The losses mount over time, and can eventually sap the battery’s energy storage capacity […]