Podcast · Chemistry
Battery week 2026: The EV cathode race & battery-recycling photocatalysts
The Chemical Breakdown
May 13, 2026
Mariana Kneppers, Patrick Walter and Neil Withers compare competing cathode materials for electric-vehicle batteries and the tradeoffs among cost, safety and performance. They also discuss a photocatalyst that uses spent car-battery acid to help convert plastic waste into useful chemicals.