New AI Discovery: Potential to Decrease Lithium Usage in Batteries

Microsoft and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have discovered a new substance using artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing that could reduce lithium use in batteries by up to 70%. The material has already been used to power a lightbulb. Using AI and supercomputers, Microsoft researchers were able to narrow down 32 million potential materials to 18 candidates in less than a week, a process that would have taken over two decades using traditional lab research methods. The development of a working battery prototype took less than nine months. The new material, currently called N2116, is a solid-state electrolyte that has the potential to be a sustainable energy storage solution. Solid-state batteries are safer than traditional liquid or gel-like lithium batteries. The AI used in this research is based on scientific materials and properties, making the data trustworthy for scientific discovery.