Powering a low-carbon future: The race to develop next-generation batteries for electric vehicles

Look inside any of the world’s estimated 6 billion smartphones or 16 million electric vehicles currently in use and chances are you’ll find a lithium-ion battery.

These batteries — in which lithium ions move to and from a positive and a negative electrode through a liquid solution known as an electrolyte — have revolutionized our lives by providing a reliable source of energy for electric and electronic devices, including cars.