Machine learning finds fluoride battery materials that could rival lithium

Machine learning has been used to quickly discover some of the most promising materials for fluoride-ion batteries. The work could accelerate development of these batteries, which are tipped by some to rival, or even replace, lithium-based ones.

In theory, fluoride-ion systems are ideal for batteries in everything from electric vehicles to consumer electronics. That’s because fluoride ions are lightweight, small and highly stable. Sourcing fluoride could also be cheaper than lithium and cobalt that are required for lithium-ion batteries. What’s more, calculations suggest that fluoride-ion batteries have potential for greater storage capacity than lithium-ion technologies.