A new substance discovered by AI could reduce lithium use in batteries.
Microsoft, in collaboration with the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), said that the new "material, unknown to us and not present in nature" could potentially reduce lithium use in batteries by up to 70% and "have tremendous environmental, safety, and economic benefits."
Earlier this year, the material was tested in a working battery prototype that can power a lightbulb.
Microsoft's researchers used AI and supercomputers to narrow down 32 million potential materials to 18 promising candidates in just 80 hours. A spokesperson for the company said this significantly shortened a process that would have traditionally taken decades.
Microsoft said in a blog post the discovery was the "first real-life example of many that will be achieved in a new era of scientific discovery driven by AI."
The discovery has the potential to address issues with lithium, such as environmental concerns around lithium mining and market shortages. The material is highly in demand and is a key component in smartphones and EV batteries.
Several tech startups have been looking for cleaner ways to mine the lithium needed for EVs.
"Lithium and other strategic elements used in these batteries are finite resources with limited and geographically concentrated supplies," Vijay Murugesan, a Group Leader at PNNL, said in the blog post.
"One of the main thrusts of our work at PNNL has been identifying new materials for increased energy storage needs of the future; ones made with sustainable materials that conserve and protect the Earth's limited resources," he added.
