Chinese Researchers Create a Hydride-Ion Battery With Six Times the Capacity of Lithium-Ion Cells Researchers in China have developed an experimental hydride-ion battery that could store up to six times more energy than conventional lithium-ion batteries. Instead of lithium ions, the battery uses negatively charged hydrogen ions to transport energy. Hydride ions are smaller and lighter than lithium ions, allowing for much higher theoretical energy density. If successfully scaled, this technology