Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), have developed a new class of ‘high entropy materials’ for use as cathodes in long-lasting and better performing lithium ion batteries, the Institute said on Thursday. While lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous with almost all consumer items being powered by them, their limited lifetime has remained a challenge to overcome. Poor lifetime of lithium ion batteries arises from the poor cycling stability of the cathodes - the performance of the cathode reduces with multiple charge-discharge cycles because of side reactions between the active material and the electrolyte. Improvements in cycling stability and better performance have therefore hinged on developing better cathode materials, such as those developed by the IIT Madras and KIT researchers. (IANS)