Lithium Ion Cathode Materials – FutureCat

Delivering improved EV performance demands high energy density batteries to improve range, high power densities for fast charging, longer lifetimes, and lower cost through reduced reliance on expensive metals. This requires fundamental materials discovery and characterisation to deepen our understanding of the underpinning mechanisms and mechanics, and push performance limits in a sustainable manner.

FutureCat addresses these challenges through three highly integrated research themes designing and developing near- and next-generation cathodes, from high-capacity/high-voltage oxides to sustainable alternatives avoiding supply-chain at-risk elements.

The advances the project is targeting represent significant commercial opportunities. Partnering with NPL, FutureCat is developing standardised protocols to validate discoveries. The project is joined by industry partners across the battery supply chain, with three Industry Fellows scaling-up manufacture, optimising performance through local structure manipulation and delivering technoeconomic knowhow on new cathode chemistries.