Establishing a living systematic review of characterisation and parameter reporting in lithium-ion and lithium–sulfur cathode research

Journal article

Advancing energy storage and decarbonising transportation while improving today’s Lithium-ion technology remain crucial, however it is equally important to pioneer new battery systems, such as lithium–sulfur (Li–S), which can meet future demands. Despite decades of progress in materials synthesis and characterisation, inconsistencies in parameter reporting and testing standards continue to limit reproducibility and cross-comparison across the battery literature. Here, we present a systematic meta-analysis of nickel–manganese–cobalt oxide (NMC) Li-ion and Li–S cathode systems, using a Python-based graphical user interface to standardise data extraction for electrode fabrication, electrochemical testing, and physical characterisation. The analysis reveals that even for the higher-technology readiness level (TRL) NMC chemistry, key experimental parameters such as electrode thickness, testing temperature, and formation protocols are frequently omitted. Both battery systems also exhibit inconsistencies in analytical procedures and ambiguity in the understanding of underlying principles when interpreting characterisation results. Our findings highlight systematic under-reporting of scalable manufacturing parameters and essential comparability metrics across both chemistries. This work establishes a cross-chemistry benchmark for transparent and reproducible reporting, providing a foundation for accelerating the translation of materials-level advances toward higher TRLs.

Authors: Bird, L; Shao, Y; Pang, B; Robinson, J; Shearing, P

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer
• Journal: Discover Electrochemistry
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Article number: 35
• Publication date: 2026-04-10
• Acceptance date: 2026-01-17
• DOI: 10.1007/s44373-026-00099-1
• EISSN: 3005-1215
• ISSN: 3005-1215
• Language: English