In a study published in Nature Energy, Dr. Perla Balbuena and Dr. Jorge Seminario, professors in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, developed a new method for understanding the impact of external pressure on lithium-metal batteries using quantum mechanics. A deeper understanding of the behavior of lithium ions under pressure can advance and improve lithium-metal battery fabrication processes to develop longer-lasting, more efficient battery technologies.