Scientists have discovered that transforming tin into a highly porous foam structure may solve one of the biggest challenges facing next-generation batteries. This innovative approach, detailed in a recent study from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), could pave the way for energy storage that packs significantly more power into the same space—think smartphones or electric vehicles with longer-lasting juice.

Beyond Graphite: The Metal Electrode Promise

For decades, lithium-ion batteries have leaned on graphite electrodes to shuttle lithium ions during charge and discharge cycles. Graphite′s reliable, but its capacity tops out at 372 mAh g⁻¹, pushing researchers to hunt for denser alternatives. Tin, with a theoretical capacity of 993 mAh g⁻¹—nearly triple graphite′s—stands out. ″Tin′s abundant, non-toxic, and can store way more lithium ions,″ says Dr. Sebastian Risse of HZB, co-author of the study published in Advanced Science. Trouble is, when lithium floods in, tin expands up to 260%, cracking and crumbling over time.