The future of rechargeable lithium batteries depends on new approaches, new materials, new understanding and particularly new solid state ionics. Newer markets demand higher energy density, higher rates or both. In this paper, some of the approaches we are investigating including, moving lithium-ion electrochemistry to higher potentials, nanowire or mesoporous electrodes and an 0, cathode, will be discussed. (C) 208 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.