Researchers from Wuhan University of Technology developed a new graphene-based high-energy electrode for Li-Ion batteries. The electrode is made from a 3D-crumpled graphene that encapsulates nickel-sulfide. Covering the Nickel-Sulfide with the graphene enhances the performance of the electrode - makes it much longer lasting.
A regular nickel-sulfide electrode offers high-performance, but it only lasts for about 150 cycles. Adding the graphene "protection", the electrode enables it to last almost a thousand cycles, without much change to capacity.
The idea is that during discharge, the new material expands and the crumple graphene unfolds simultaneously, resulting in nickel nanoparticles and Li2S in the graphene matrix. When the battery charges the graphene refolds.