About it

This piece came from reading a paper by my friend Dr Gabriele Lingua, "New (Trifluoromethane)Sulfonylimide Single-Ion Conductor with PEG Spacer for All-Solid-State Lithium-Based Batteries." I attempt to translate that work into a visual narrative that resonates with both technical and general audiences. This was a proposal for the cover of the magazine, which ended up being awarded by the Universidad de Cádiz in collaboration with the FECYT as the winner of the scientific illustration contest “Lo pequeño” in 2025.

The Challenge

The study compares two approaches to lithium-ion transport: short ionic liquid monomers, which create fragmented and inefficient pathways, versus single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes (SICPs), which offer smoother, more efficient routes. The cover had to make that contrast legible at a glance while capturing the maze-like complexity of ion movement inside a solid-state battery.

The Process

The whole image is conceived as a giant battery shaped like a mothership, with luminous pole symbols anchoring the composition and establishing a clear visual reference for the direction of lithium-ion flow.

The game Snakes and Ladders gave the piece its structural logic. Large cubic stair steps dominate parts of the layout, representing the short ionic liquid monomers; their fragmented, erratic geometry mirrors the obstacles ions face when navigating through those materials. Weaving through the scene, snakes stand in for the SICPs. Their skin patterns are drawn directly from Scheme 2 of the study, embedding the actual structural details of the polymers into the illustration. The contrast between the rigid, blocky steps and the organic, flowing snakes carries the paper's central argument visually: adaptability and efficiency versus rigidity and frustration. The whole composition is rendered in a 3D isometric view inspired by M.C. Escher. The pathways seem logical but lead to visual traps, reflecting the unpredictable ion movements within short-monomer systems, while the snakes cut through cleanly as guided, efficient alternatives.

Lithium ions appear as small, vibrant characters scaling the maze. Those stuck on the cubic steps are shown struggling, while the ones travelling along the snakes look relaxed and dynamic, turning the efficiency gap into a piece of visual storytelling. Portals are scattered along the snakes' paths as luminous shortcuts, symbolising faster ion transport and reinforcing the futuristic, innovative nature of the SICPs.