The academic institution's Center for Automotive Research undertook the investigation as part of its efforts to improve electrically-powered vehicles.
After looking at what takes place inside a lithium ion battery, the scientists determined that the electrical connectors of the cell - the anode and the cathode - are the important elements.
When the battery is repeatedly charged and discharged, some lithium moves irreversibly from the cathode to the anode.
Meanwhile, the nanomaterials on the electrodes' surfaces - key to enabling rapid charging and discharging of the battery - appear to coarsen over time.
Combating these irreversible changes in the physical characteristics of lithium ion cells could prove advantageous for companies aiming to design longer-lasting batteries in future.
OSU researchers recently revealed research that could increase processing power in clinical laboratory IT solutions by using excess heat to store data using quantum spin characteristics.
