A fast-charging/discharging and long-term stable artificial electrode enabled by space charge storage mechanism

Lithium-ion batteries with fast-charging/discharging properties are urgently needed for the mass adoption of electric vehicles. Here, we show that fast charging/discharging, long-term stable and high energy charge-storage properties can be realized in an artificial electrode made from a mixed electronic/ionic conductor material (Fe/Li_xM, where M = O, F, S, N) enabled by a space charge principle. Particularly, the Fe/Li₂O electrode is able to be charged/discharged to 126 mAh g^-1 in 6 s at a high current density of up to 50 A g^-1, and it also shows stable cycling performance for 30,000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g^-1, with a mass-loading of ~2.5 mg cm^-2 of the electrode materials. This study demonstrates the critical role of the space charge storage mechanism in advancing electrochemical energy storage and provides an unconventional perspective for designing high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.