An AI-driven public database that will streamline next-generation battery research and design is being developed by scientists at the University of Surrey.

With hundreds of papers on battery electrolytes published globally each week, the field is saturated with fragmented data, inconsistent reporting standards and a lack of unified performance indicators.

The project aims to address the overwhelming amount of scientific research on lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). In particular, the initiative will focus on improving the design of liquid electrolytes, a critical component in the development of LMBs.

New UK research hub AIchemy has awarded the project a £25,000 grant as part of its mission to transform the chemistry-AI interface and address key barriers in the field.

Dr Neubi Xavier, co-lead on the project and Research Fellow at the University of Surrey’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, said:

"Lithium-metal batteries hold enormous potential for energy storage, but their commercial viability is limited by poor cycle life and unwanted side reactions between lithium metal and liquid electrolytes. Currently, researchers rely on trial-and-error methods due to the sheer number of possible electrolyte formulations. We hope to change that by extracting and standardising data, allowing for more efficient and targeted research."

The team will use large language models (LLMs), machine learning and computational simulations to analyse existing information, identify missing insights and generate an AI-powered, high-throughput database that will serve as a vital resource for scientists across disciplines.

Dr Matthias Golomb, who is also a co-lead on the project from the University of Surrey, emphasised the broader impact:

“Without a breakthrough in energy storage, our own technological progress is held back. That’s why we want this ‘computation-ready’ cloud database to be publicly available and free to access worldwide, creating a systematic, data-driven approach to electrolyte discovery. This will not only drive forward breakthroughs in battery innovation but also set new standards for reporting and collaboration in battery science."

Lithium-metal batteries offer higher energy density than traditional lithium-ion batteries, making them a favourable option for electric vehicles and energy grid storage. However, advancements in electrolyte design are crucial to making LMBs a scalable energy solution.

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