New electrochemical method could boost EV battery energy density

Researchers at the University of Sharjah have developed a novel electrochemical method that could significantly enhance the energy density, charging speed, and operational lifespan of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. By applying fractional diffusion theory, the team gained deeper insights into transient charging behaviors in complex materials, particularly mixed ionic-electronic conductors (MIECs), which are crucial for next-generation batteries, bioelectronic interfaces, and neuromorphic computing circuits. Their approach links microscopic ionic transport dynamics with macroscopic measurable variables, enabling the design of electrodes and conductors with improved performance characteristics. The study, published in Advanced Materials, demonstrates that thinner MIEC films exhibit faster charging and discharging behaviors governed by a thickness-limited scaling law accurately predicted by the fractional diffusion model. This model incorporates memory effects and non-local interactions, providing a robust framework to diagnose diffusive behavior and optimize device parameters. The findings bridge theoretical electrochemistry and practical device engineering, suggesting that tuning film thickness and morphology can engineer transport dimensionality, thus