Replacing rare-earth metals with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for cheaper, safer, and potentially more powerful batteries

https://phys.org/news/2026-04-hydrocarbons-power-generation-batteries-emissions.html

"traditional batteries use inorganic crystals (like graphite/ metal oxides) having fixed atomic structures. but organic compounds' electronic properties/ metal ion storage tunable at molecular level for faster charging/ higher safety... machine learning finds molecules most promising for cathodes/ anodes... irreversible lithium loss during 1st charge overcome using lithium-naphthalenide reagents... 100% regeneration of spent batteries... hydrocarbons from renewable sources/ coal byproducts... no cobalt/ nickel"