Lithium-ion batteries could eventually last longer Shutterstock/Bokeh Art Photo It may be possible to extend the life of lithium-ion batteries using standard, low-cost chemistry. Lithium-ion batteries consist of a negative anode and a positive cathode with a porous separator between the two. This is immersed in an electrolyte that enables lithium ions to shuttle between the electrodes during charge and discharge. At the negative electrode, the electrolyte breaks down to form a thin protective coating that keeps the battery stable and prolongs its lifespan. Chunsheng Wang at the University of Maryland says that creating a similar protective layer on the cathode has always been considered much more difficult because the electrical conditions there are different, creating a more reactive environment and causing conventional electrolytes to break down before a stable coating can form. Wang and his colleagues overcame this hurdle using a simple reaction borrowed from organic chemistry, which makes the electrolyte more “willing” to accept electrons and steers its breakdown into a controlled process that builds a stable protective coating at the cathode. “By …