Scientists have uncovered a previously overlooked process inside lithium-ion batteries that could pave the way for longer-lasting, faster-charging and safer energy storage devices.

Researchers from the University of Dundee and the University of Warwick have found that oxygen plays a much more significant role in how lithium-ion batteries store and release energy than previously believed. The discovery challenges the long-held assumption that metals such as nickel, cobalt and iron perform almost all of the work during charging and discharging.

Using a combination of advanced computer simulations and laboratory testing, the research team demonstrated that oxygen actively participates in the movement of electrons within certain battery materials. This deeper understanding of battery chemistry could help engineers develop more durable batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops and renewable energy storage systems.

The study focused on two of the most widely used lithium-ion battery cathode materials, phosphate-based batteries and layered oxide batteries. While phosphate materials showed very little oxygen involvement, the researchers found that layered oxide batteries exhibited substantial electron activity associated with oxygen during charging.

Dr Hrishit Banerjee, a theoretical physicist at the University of Dundee, said the findings improve scientists’ understanding of the atomic-level processes that determine battery performance and lifespan.

He said modern society increasingly depends on rechargeable batteries across everything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles, making it essential to better understand the fundamental science behind how these technologies operate.

According to the researchers, many of today’s battery limitations stem from an incomplete understanding of why batteries gradually lose capacity over time. By identifying oxygen’s contribution to these electrochemical reactions, future battery designs could be optimised to improve longevity, charging speeds and overall safety.

The discovery may also assist manufacturers developing the next generation of batteries for clean energy applications, where longer service life and higher efficiency are becoming increasingly important.

Although the research represents a significant scientific advance, it is still at the laboratory stage and will require further development before it translates into commercial battery products.

The full study has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.