Past exam of the MPhil in micro- and nanotechnology enterprise course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / Paper 1 / 11 / iii / b / Solution

Increase the electrochemically accessible area and reduce transport resistance rather than merely forcing more electric current through the same thick electrode. A thinner, porous composite distributed over a larger area, a conductive-carbon network, good electrolyte wetting and short ionic paths reduce local current density and electric polarization. Adequate battery separator conductivity and low-resistance collectors also help. Parallel cells can distribute total electric current while retaining the total active-material inventory.

The objective is to preserve usable capacity at a higher rate by avoiding premature voltage cutoff and inaccessible active material. It does not create more charge: a fixed inventory with $175.2\mathrm{Ah}$ delivers a greater electric current for a proportionally shorter time. Maintaining the original two-year duration at greater electric current requires proportionally more capacity.