Electric cars with greater range and longer-lasting batteries — this is the promise of a new silicon electrode for more powerful, stable, and sustainable lithium batteries. This finding is the result of a study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, conducted by Dr. Xuekun Lu of Queen Mary University of London, and involving the University of Pisa and Professor Antonio Bertei of the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering. "This breakthrough", says Bertei, "paves the way for a considerably more extensive and economically viable use of silicon in lithium batteries than is currently achievable. In other words, the percentage of silicon in batteries can be raised, considerably improving the range of electric vehicles while maintaining the battery's lifespan. The technology we offer is reliable, but it must be scaled up to an industrial size and subjected to more rigorous endurance testing before it can be commercialized".