Lithium ions sprint up to 10,000 times faster when their molecular cages briefly open

AI Summary

International researchers led by Professor Bong June Sung and Professor Shinji Saito examined the molecular mechanisms of lithium ion mobility in organic ionic plastic crystals, enhancing understanding of solid electrolytes for next-gen batteries.

An international collaborative research group led by Professor Bong June Sung of the Department of Chemistry at Sogang University and Professor Shinji Saito of the Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS), and the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, has elucidated, at the molecular level, how lithium ions move within organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs)—which are attracting attention as solid electrolytes for next-generation batteries.