Success Stories
From research discoveries to commercial spin-outs, policy guidance to career development and engagement, this selection of case studies from the Faraday Institution and its research community demonstrates the impacts we are making on UK science, the economy and future generations of researchers.
Unlocking silicon’s promise: a novel process for making high-performance anode material
University of Sheffield spin‑out, AmpliSi, has developed a new process for producing porous silicon anode material that goes some way to overcome both challenges – opening a path to higher‑performing, and more sustainable batteries.
Finding a needle in a haystack: mapping binders in battery anodes unlocks insights
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a new patent-pending staining and imaging process that allows previously “invisible” binders in lithium-ion battery anodes to be mapped and quantified.
Polymer binders – towards more practical solid-state batteries
Polymer chemists at the University of Oxford, working as part of the interdisciplinary SOLBAT project team, have filed two patent families for novel cathode binder materials for solid-state batteries.
LF Energy Battery Data Alliance Announces the Battery Data Format (BDF)
A new open, community-driven standard for battery data interoperability. BDF provides a unified, machine-readable schema and ontology-aligned metadata to make battery data shareable, reproducible, and model-ready across labs, vendors, and software.
Batri and Swansea University Announce Landmark UK Milestone in Sodium-Ion Cell Development
Batri's article announces a landmark moment for the UK battery industry has arrived; a new cylindrical sodium-ion cell built with Welsh materials and homegrown innovation.
Scaling multi-layer sodium-ion pouch cells towards commercialisation
Case study: NEXGENNA has advanced sodium-ion battery technology by scaling the synthesis of active materials and developing a low-cost, scalable flow process for electrolytes.
Developing models to predict hysteretic behaviour in LFP and emerging chemistries
Case study: A collaboration between universities and About:Energy as part of the Multi-scale project developed a simple and rational model of hysteretic lithiation.
Understanding the degradation of single-crystal LiNiO2 cathodes under stressed conditions
Case study: Researchers from the Universities of Warwick and Sheffield and Diamond Light Source as part of the FutureCat project, studied single-crystalline LiNiO₂, a cobalt-free cathode for high-energy lithium-ion batteries.
Rapid and economic recycling route to produce battery active materials
Case study: A new patent-pending technology developed at the University of Leicester as part of the ReLiB Project allows recycling of lithium-ion battery black mass.
Leading the charge on cobalt-free lithium-rich layered oxide cathode materials
Case study: CATMAT researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a Li1.2Mn0.5Ni0.3O2 cathode material, optimised for performance, stability and scalability.
Extending lifetime with quasi-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries
Case study: As part of the LiSTAR project, researchers have developed a new cell that avoids the formation of liquid polysulfides to improve performance and extend lifetime.
Deepening the understanding of cracking during electrode drying
Case study: Nextrode project researchers at UCL have advanced the understanding of how spontaneous electrode cracking during drying may serve a similar purpose while theoretically eliminating the need for additional process steps and capital costs.
Optimising formation protocols for anode-less lithium metal batteries
Case study: Researchers from the Degradation Project have identified a critical link between formation protocols and long-term performance in anode-less lithium metal batteries.
Developing a digital twin to inform safer design
Case study: Researchers at the University of Oxford and University of Warwick as part of the SafeBatt project have developed and experimentally validated a digital twin representation of a cell cluster
What is the future cost? A technoeconomic assessment of solid-state batteries
Case study: A consortium of academic and industry experts, led by scientists from the SOLBAT project have assessed how thin the lithium anode layer must be to unlock the higher energy density of solid-state batteries, key to longer-range EVs.
AI unlocks the manufacturing secrets of LMFP
Industry Sprint, between WMG University of Warwick and Imperial spin-out Polaron, has demonstrated the power of AI and machine learning to inform and accelerate battery materials development.
A striking reaction
A team from the University of Oxford, working as part of a Faraday Institution Industry Sprint, have developed a class of sodium-ion cathode materials that store charge reversibly on the oxygen atoms as well as metal atoms of the crystal structure.
Advancing Battery Diagnostics in Industrially-relevant Cells
A new generation of diagnostic tools for full-format cells are bridging the gap between academic research and industry development, offering new insights in battery performance and manufacturing.
Battery Pack Development Can Save Millions for EV Makers
Reducing the time and risks associated with custom pack development is the name of the game for IONETIC, a start-up that aims to save automakers millions in costs.
Could sodium-ion super-charge Africa’s battery rental market?
A Faraday Institution-backed research project investigating the effectiveness of sodium-ion cells could help bring more sustainable battery packs to the market.
FUSE’s Impact on Development and Retention of Talent in the UK Battery Sector
As we continue to welcome Faraday Institution Faraday Undergraduate Summer Experience (FUSE) students to our research community, we’re delighted to share some metrics on the success of the programme in previous years.
Developing longer-lasting saggars
A collaboration between Morgan Advanced Materials and the University of Sheffield has helped Morgan develop a new, longer-lasting saggar – that could help manufacturers save money and avoid preventable accidents during manufacture.
Imperial AI spinout Polaron wins £1 million Manchester Prize
A success story written by Imperial on a government award recognising the potential of Polaron’s AI tools to speed up materials optimisation for climate-critical technologies.
Breathe and Volvo Cars Partner
Former entrepreneurial fellows Breathe Battery Technologies and Volvo Cars partner to bring adaptive charging software to new generation EVs.
Scientists cook up a green recipe for recycling lithium-ion batteries using vegetable oil
Researchers at the University of Leicester, led by Professor Andy Abbott and Dr Jake Yang under the Faraday Institution’s ReLiB project, have developed a technique to extract valuable metals from used batteries using water and cooking oil.
Zest for glass: how glass fibres can put the zest in solid-state batteries
In the IOM3’s Materials World Magazine article, Dr Pier Sazio from University of Southampton and Dr Mike Thomas from Morgan Advanced Materials reveal how glass fibres put the ZEST in solid-state batteries (SSBs) and why is this pioneering.
Battery-powered electric vehicles now match petrol and diesel counterparts for longevity
Read the The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) article on a paper "The closing longevity gap between battery electric vehicles and internal combustion vehicles in Great Britain" published in Nature Energy.
Tracking sulfur species to improve understanding of cell behaviour
Case study: LiSTAR project researchers from University College London and the University of Oxford have developed a new method of tracking the dissolved polysulfides in real-time utilising optical fluorescence microscopy.
A step towards overcoming pressure sensitivity in solid-state batteries
Case study: Scientists at the University of Oxford working on the SOLBAT project have developed a lithium-rich alloy that reduces the pressure requirements of solid-state batteries.
Towards longer-lasting high energy-density lithium-ion batteries
Case study: FutureCat researchers at the University of Birmingham have made significant strides in understanding the formation of molecular oxygen-like species in Ni-rich lithium-ion battery cathodes at high states of charge.
#FaradayPathways to Career Success
These Faraday Pathways showcase the career success of talented individuals throughout our community and how Faraday Institution training programmes, interventions, collaborative ways of working and community building initiatives are helping to deliver future skills needed.