Solid-state batteries are set to viably revolutionize energy storage capabilities.

Or at the very least, make really impactful evolutionary strides in capability and capacity.

Battery technologists in R&D have long been evaluating new materials science and chemistry which might yield battery cells which are lighter, safer, have higher energy density, last longer, are greener to manufacture/dispose, and are quicker charging. Oh yeah, and it has to promise lower cost, easy-to-scale manufacturing. That’s no easy engineering challenge by any measure, but it looks like things are aligning and nearing an inflection point.

Let’s dive into why solid-state batteries are so exciting right now and what makes them tick, chemistry-wise.

Why Solid-State Batteries Are Awesome

Safer to Use: If you’ve ever heard about phone batteries catching fire, it’s the liquid electrolytes which batteries (of all types) today use. (*Electrolytes are the material where the electrical ions can build up force while moving between the “anode” (positive) and “cathode” (negative) terminals and make up the bulk of a battery.) Solid-state batteries, on the other hand, will use solid (or mostly-solid) electrolyte layers, which aren’t (nearly as) flammable. This means they should -by design- be much safer and less likely to cause fires or explosions should they ever get damaged or malfunction.

More Power in Less Space: Battery chemistries with higher “energy density” can store more energy without being bigger. That’s what solid-state batteries can do. They can use solid lithium (or potentially other solid materials), which can produce a lot more energy than Lithium-Ion – the current state-of-the-battery-art which uses a type of paste material. So, your local energy supply (home energy backup!) will last more hours, and electric cars will drive further on a single charge.

Improved Durability: One of the biggest issues with traditional batteries is that they wear out over time. Solid-state batteries -as they are being continually refined in the lab and with early test customers – age more gracefully. They’re less prone to problems like “dendrites” (tiny metal spikes that cause battery degradation and potential short circuits), which means they can keep going for many more charge cycles. Volkswagon recently tested solid-state batteries manufactured by Quantumscape which powered R&D vehicles for over 300,000 miles worth of charging/discharing while retaining 95% of the battery’s original capacity. This soundy beats today’s best battery tech.

Quick Charging: Waiting for batteries to charge can be inconvenient. Solid-state batteries have been shown to handle higher charging currents without overheating. This inherent thermal stability will help batteries be more reliable over time, but it also means they can charge up a lot faster. This is a big win for solid states.

The Chemistry Behind the Magic

  1. Choosing the Right Electrolyte: The solid electrolyte is the star of the show here. Different materials are being tested here, like ceramics, sulfides, and polymers. Each has its pros and cons. Ceramics are stable and conduct ions well but can be brittle. Sulfides are easier to work with but don’t like moisture. Polymers are flexible but don’t conduct as well.
  2. Lithium Metal Anodes: Solid-state batteries can use lithium metal anodes, which pack a lot of punch energy-wise. But lithium metal is super reactive and needs a very stable solid electrolyte to keep things safe and efficient.
  3. Perfecting the Interfaces: The connection between the solid electrolyte and the electrodes is crucial. If these interfaces aren’t just right, the battery’s performance can take a hit. So, a lot of effort goes into making sure these connections are solid and conductive. Some early products to market will likely leverage “quasi-solid” interface boundaries of very thin viscous materials to prevent dendrite formation, but other advanced designs coming to market are expected to be truly “solid” all-the-way through.
  4. Overcoming Manufacturing Hurdles: Making solid-state batteries isn’t easy. The process involves creating thin, uniform solid electrolytes and integrating them into a battery design that works well. Advances in materials science and manufacturing tech are helping to tackle these challenges -including manufacturing designs which provide “drop-in” tech and tools to enable existing battery production pipelines to switch to using the new chemistries and battery designs more efficiently.

Wrapping Up

Solid-state batteries are packed with potential, promising safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting energy storage solutions. While there are still some technical challenges to overcome, especially in terms of materials and manufacturing, the benefits make this a super exciting area to watch.

As the technology progresses, solid-state batteries will likely be replacing lithium-ion for everything from smartphones to electric cars and solar+energy storage systems. So, keep an eye out—this is one battery innovation that’s set to power a brighter, more sustainable future.