New EV battery anode hits 2,100 cycles, 4x capacity in fast charging

A research team in Korea has developed a novel hybrid anode material for electric vehicle (EV) batteries that significantly enhances fast-charging capability while extending battery lifespan. This hybrid anode combines conventional graphite particles (mesocarbon microbeads, MCMB) with curved nanosheets of chlorinated contorted hexabenzocoronene (Cl-cHBC), creating larger interlayer spaces and nanoscale channels that facilitate efficient lithium-ion transport. The sequential lithium-ion insertion—first into the nanosheets, then into graphite—prevents the formation of "dead lithium," a common cause of capacity loss during rapid charging. Experimental results demonstrated that batteries with this anode deliver over four times the capacity of standard graphite under high-rate charging and maintain 70% capacity after 1,000 cycles in full-cell tests. Pouch cells showed stability for over 2,100 cycles with 99% Coulombic efficiency, indicating strong durability for practical use. The fabrication process is scalable and compatible with existing battery