New two‑dimensional material could power the next generation of batteries
image: Unlocking colossal storage capacity and energy density of two-dimensional biphenylene oxide for Li-, Na-, and K-ion batteries
Credit: Adewale Hammed Pasanaje, Daniel S. Choi & Nirpendra Singh
A team of scientists from Khalifa University has identified a new form of carbon material that could revolutionize energy storage for electric vehicles and portable electronics. Their study, published in Carbon Research, reveals that a two‑dimensional compound called biphenylene oxide can store nearly five times more energy than graphite, the main material used in most lithium‑ion batteries today.
The research, led by Adewale Hammed Pasanaje and Nirpendra Singh, used high‑precision first‑principles computer simulations to study how biphenylene sheets, an atom‑thin carbon arrangement made of hexagonal and square rings, behave when bonded with oxygen. This simple oxidation step, the team found, dramatically increases the material’s capacity to hold lithium, sodium, and potassium ions, the lightweight metals that power rechargeable batteries.
The newly designed biphenylene oxide achieves an extraordinary theoretical capacity of 1826 milliamp‑hours per gram for lithium, compared with just 372 for conventional graphite. It also offers capacities of 1065 and 913 for sodium and potassium respectively, along with superior energy densities and minimal structural deformation during charging and discharging.
“Our work shows that adding controlled amounts of oxygen turns biphenylene into one of the most promising candidates for next‑generation anodes,” said Professor Singh. “It allows faster ion movement and much higher energy storage while maintaining mechanical stability.”
The material’s unique two‑dimensional structure provides abundant pores and active sites for metal ions to attach, while its strong yet flexible bonds prevent cracking during battery operation. The researchers also found that the interaction between oxygen atoms and the carbon lattice improves electronic conductivity and ensures safer, more stable cycling.
Besides its remarkable performance, the study reports that biphenylene oxide can be synthesized using techniques similar to those already developed for graphene oxide, suggesting a feasible path toward production at scale. With predicted open‑circuit voltages close to one volt and excellent heat resistance up to 1000 degrees Kelvin, the material combines high performance with durability.
“This discovery brings us a step closer to developing lightweight, fast‑charging batteries that could significantly extend the range of electric vehicles and lower costs for sustainable energy storage,” Pasanaje explained.
The researchers hope future experiments will confirm their computational results and encourage collaborative efforts to fabricate and test this carbon‑based anode in real devices.
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Journal Reference: Pasanaje, A.H., Choi, D.S. & Singh, N. Unlocking colossal storage capacity and energy density of two-dimensional biphenylene oxide for Li-, Na-, and K-ion batteries. Carbon Res. 4, 50 (2025). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44246-025-00217-5
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About Carbon Research
The journal Carbon Research is an international multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on natural and engineered carbonaceous materials that are associated with ecological and environmental functions, energy generation, and global change. It is a fully Open Access (OA) journal and the Article Publishing Charges (APC) are waived until Dec 31, 2025. It is dedicated to serving as an innovative, efficient and professional platform for researchers in the field of carbon functions around the world to deliver findings from this rapidly expanding field of science. The journal is currently indexed by Scopus and Ei Compendex, and as of June 2025, the dynamic CiteScore value is 15.4.