US Dept of Energy research involving cesiumOn a mission to build better electric vehicle batteries, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have used an additive to improve the functionality of lithium (Li) metal batteries. By adding a compound called cesium nitrate to the electrolyte that separates the battery’s negative and positive electrodes—the anode and cathode, respectively—the research team has significantly improved the charging rate of Li metal batteries while maintaining a long cycle life.