New organic materials allow ions to move freely in the solid state.

Usually, when a liquid solidifies, its molecules are locked in place, limiting the movement of ions and causing a significant decrease in ionic conductivity. However, scientists at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom have developed a new type of organic material called "state-insensitive electrolytes" which breaks this rule, allowing ions to move freely in the solid state like they do in a liquid. The related paper was published on the 18th in the journal "Science".