Solid-state batteries are considered the biggest breakthrough in energy storage, particularly in electromobility. To begin with, they are way safer and resistant to the inconvenient fires of regular li-ion cells. Solid-state batteries charge more quickly as well and can store more energy in a smaller, lighter footprint.
Many companies work on a solid-state battery, but they are still to make a market breakthrough. Imec, one of the largest international research and development organizations, says it cracked the code and made the first viable solid-state battery.
Imec’s solution has been developed in collaboration with 13 European partners, as part of the SOLiDIFY initiative. Crucially, the project produced some Earth-shattering numbers. Notably, it has an energy density of 1070 Wh/L, which is a sizeable jump to the 800 Wh/L of the most advanced lithium-ion batteries currently available.
In other words, it can push more kWh than an existing EV battery in the same footprint, while also being lighter, leading to huge range gains. Imec achieved that by using a thin lithium metal anode and high-capacity composite cathode, separated by an ultra-thin (50 μm) solid electrolyte separator.
However, higher energy efficiency was never the problem of solid-state battery technology. It was cost and manufacturing, both of which were significant hurdles to overcome. Well, Imec says it solved both those problems as well. So, its solid-state battery can be easily manufactured using existing li-ion production lines, at room temperature, which cuts cost compared to other proposed solutions.
The battery’s solid electrolyte – a doped polymerized ionic liquid (PIL)-based nanocomposite, also enables simple solidification, leading to further manufacturing efficiency gains. As a result, Imec claims the new battery will cost less than €150 (~$160) per kWh.
Although the results are promising, there are a few additional steps Imec and its partners need to overcome, like upscaling the technology to production capacity. Still, it wouldn’t be long before solid-state batteries become a staple in the mobility industry and lead us to a more sustainable, carbon-neutral society.
Article & Image Source: imec
