Researchers from Yokohama National University (Japan) have proposed adding a graphene mesoporous material - a so-called "graphene mesosponge" (GMS) - to lithium-ion battery electrodes. The results were published on October 8, 2026 in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.
Lithium-ion batteries power smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles. To make them more powerful and higher-capacity, scientists are trying to increase the share of active material in the positive electrode (cathode), which is what limits energy capacity. However, the more active material and the fewer conductive additives and polymer binders, the harder it is for electrons and lithium ions to move within the electrode. As a result, the battery operates inefficiently.
A team led by Professor Naoaki Yabuuchi compared three carbon materials as conductive additives: acetylene black, single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene mesosponge. It turned out that GMS, thanks to its porous three-dimensional structure, helps the electrolyte - the liquid that carries ions - penetrate deep into the electrode. This creates a branched network for electron and ion transport.
Using FIB-SEM tomography (a three-dimensional imaging study of a sample's internal structure), the scientists showed that GMS is distributed in the electrode more evenly than alternative additives. According to Yabuuchi, this architecture "forms a three-dimensional electron-ion transport network" and improves rate performance.
It is important to understand: this concerns laboratory tests, not a finished product. The study demonstrates that the additive is promising for increasing energy and power density, but does not prove that it will immediately make batteries cheaper or more durable. The authors emphasize that their goal is in the future to combine high energy capacity, power and fast charging with a graphite negative electrode.
For now this is only a step toward more advanced batteries. The article does not report commercial implementation or timelines for such batteries reaching the market.