Scientists in the US have identified nearly 63,000 promising materials that could advance solid-state battery technology and speed up the development of safer and higher-performing energy storage. The researchers at Cornell University used an artificial intelligence (AI) framework called IonNet to search millions of possible materials for fast-ion conductors that are critical components of solid-state batteries. They replace the flammable liquid electrolytes found in conventional lithium-ion batteries with solid materials. According to the researchers, IonNet can predict how effectively lithium ions can move through a solid material using its chemical composition. Looking for new materials The researchers first applied the IonNet to roughly 4,500 stable compounds.