High-nickel cathodes are promising for improving the energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, their high nickel concentration leads to intense side reactions, degrading safety and stability. While full concentration gradient (FCG) design can address this issue, current approaches limit design flexibility. Now, researchers have developed a novel mathematical framework that, combined with an automated reactor system, allows unlimited customization of FCGs with independent parameter control, leading to LIBs with enhanced safety and stability.

Layered sodium manganese oxide (NaMnO₂), especially its β-phase, has received considerable attention for use as cathodes in sodium-ion batteries. However, β-NaMnO₂ exhibits stacking faults (SFs), which severely reduce its cycling stability. In a new study, researchers studied how copper-doping can eliminate SFs in β-NaMnO₂, significantly improving cycling stability. This strategy can lead to the development of longer-lasting sodium-ion batteries, leading to more affordable energy-storage solutions.

Although music is considered a purely auditory experience, visual cues can unconsciously influence performance judgements—a phenomenon known as the sight-over-sound effect. To explore how one’s musical expertise can affect this bias, researchers from Japan conducted a controlled study using recordings from Japanese high school brass band competitions. Their results reveal that the effect predominantly appears in musicians without genre-specific experience, highlighting how specialized training can shape multisensory evaluation in music perception and judgement.