The University of Oxford is spearheading a £3 million initiative to develop next-generation cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, aiming to enhance performance, energy density and sustainability.
The project, named 3D-CAT, is backed by the Faraday Institution and brings together Oxford, UCL and key industry partners to tackle the challenge of creating cobalt- and nickel-free cathodes.
Current alternatives like lithium iron phosphate and lithium manganese iron phosphate offer environmental benefits but fall short on energy density. 3D-CAT will explore lithium-rich disordered rocksalts – materials with promising energy potential but limited rate performance and scalability. The team will investigate how partial ordering of lithium and transition metal atoms can improve ion transport, paving the way for high-performance, scalable cathodes.
“3D-CAT is an exciting opportunity to develop innovative new Li-ion cathode materials to support the British battery industry,” said Professor Robert House, principal investigator. “I am delighted to have the support of the Faraday Institution and our expert industry partners to deliver our vision.”
Over the next three years, researchers will use Oxford’s Centre for Energy Materials Research and Materials Modelling Laboratory to design, synthesise and test prototype cathodes. The project also aims to develop low-cost, energy-efficient production methods and explore conductive coatings to boost performance.
Industry partners, including the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), will support scale-up efforts at the AMBIC battery facility. As part of Oxford’s broader battery research portfolio, 3D-CAT reinforces the UK’s leadership in sustainable energy innovation.
Image: Professor Robert House showing Faraday Institution interns an X-ray diffractometer and the setup he uses for operando battery measurements. Credit: Faraday Institution.
