[marshray]

> ask the battery chemists you know what the best-case storage is for a particular chemistry and cathode material

It's entirely possible that with an exponential increase in production volume (i.e., funding) we could see some new chemistries appear.

Compare to Silicon Carbide (blue LEDs) and Gallium Nitride (power transistors).

[BeeOnRope]

It is possible. In fact, I definitely expect to see new chemistries and anode/cathode materials appear.

The question is how much it will buy us.

Unlike other domains where theories or algorithms or medicines or whatever appear almost "out of thin air", the periodic table is limited and the mechanism of battery operation is well understood, so I think there is already a pretty good grasp on the possible materials that can be used, even in theory.

For example, Lithium is used for a reason, something like it's electron carrying capacity per unit weight. There are no other elements waiting to be discovered that are going to be better. Cathode materials are more complicated, but I don't think there is any order of magnitude improvement hidden out there.

I could certainly be wrong.