The University of Oxford is spearheading a new £3 million research initiative to develop advanced cathode materials that could transform the performance and sustainability of future lithium-ion batteries. The project, known as 3D-CAT, is part of a wider investment by the Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute dedicated to electrochemical energy storage research.

By focusing on alternatives to cobalt- and nickel-based cathodes, the initiative seeks to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the battery industry today. Cobalt and nickel, though widely used in high-performance batteries, are costly, environmentally problematic, and heavily concentrated in limited geographic regions. Developing new cathode materials without these elements could not only reduce costs but also ease supply chain pressures and improve sustainability.

Researchers at the University of Oxford and UCL will collaborate with industry partners to design, synthesize, and test novel cathode candidates, advancing them from first-principles theory through to prototype validation. Strong existing alternatives such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathodes already avoid cobalt and nickel but typically offer lower energy densities. The goal of the 3D-CAT project is to close this performance gap while maintaining affordability and scalability.

One of the most promising directions lies in lithium-rich disordered rocksalts, a class of materials where lithium and transition metal atoms are arranged in a disordered crystal structure. These cathodes show the potential for very high energy density, making them attractive for electric vehicle (EV) applications. However, they currently suffer from drawbacks including poor rate performance—limiting how fast batteries can charge and discharge—and challenges in scalable production. Traditional ball-milling methods used to produce such materials consume large amounts of energy and are difficult to scale industrially.

By tackling these issues head-on, the 3D-CAT project aims to deliver cathode materials that combine high performance with low environmental impact. If successful, the breakthrough could significantly advance the UK’s progress toward Net Zero by enabling more efficient, affordable, and sustainable batteries, ultimately boosting the range and power of electric vehicles.

Industry experts say the project represents a crucial step in securing the UK’s role in the global battery race. With demand for EVs and renewable energy storage systems accelerating, innovation in battery chemistry is seen as vital to reducing dependence on geopolitically sensitive resources while ensuring reliable access to cutting-edge technologies.