By zhanqun1 
Solid-state batteries are the hot spots sought after by tram and battery companies in the past year or two. If the solid state battery research and development is successful, the short life of the car battery and the problem of charging for a long time will be completely solved, which is an earth-shattering technological change for the trolley company and the energy storage battery industry. Today, we’re going to look at solid-state batteries.
Ⅰ、Five safety advantages of solid-state batteries
The liquid electrolyte carries the charged lithium ions in the traditional liquid lithium battery to realize the effect of charging and discharging. The shortcomings of liquid lithium-ion batteries are low ignition point, low energy density, short life, and easy aging. Therefore, the following points are particularly prominent for solid-state batteries:
1, inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites Solid electrolyte has high mechanical strength, does not produce the formation of lithium dendrites, solid substances, even if deformed, missing, will not produce short circuit risk.
2, the combustion temperature of liquid lithium batteries usually does not exceed 200℃, while that of a solid-state battery is at least 400-500℃, some can go as high as 1000 ℃. In high-temperature conditions, solid-state batteries are safer and less liable to catch fire or explosion.
3, more stable interface, less interface reaction between the solid electrolyte and the electrode, which ensures that the battery is much more stable and prolongs the service life.
4, no risk of leakage The solid electrolyte itself will not leak liquids. This makes the structure of the battery more stable and reduces maintenance costs.
- Superior performance at high temperature: The thermal runaway temperature of solid state battery is much higher than that of traditional lithium battery, from 200℃ to 400℃ or even more than 1000℃, which can greatly improve its resistance to high temperature.
Ⅱ. Technical direction and development status
The current research of solid state battery technology mainly focuses on the following two types of solid state electrolytes:
- Inorganic electrolytes such as oxides, sulfides, and halide electrolytes, which have high ionic conductivity and good chemical stability. However, the cost is a little high and the preparation process is complex.
- Compared with inorganic electrolytes, polymer electrolytes boast lighter weight, lower production cost, good flexibility, and low interface impedance; hence, much attention has been attracted in practical applications.
Ⅲ. Performance advantage and application prospect
The many performance advantages of solid-state batteries make them have very wide application prospects in many fields. The energy density of a solid-state battery could reach as high as 600Wh/kg, which will greatly improve the endurance of electric vehicles. Improved interface stability and material performance enable solid-state batteries to maintain longer life cycles and reduce replacement frequency.
Some advanced technologies even allow solid-state batteries to charge in 15 minutes, for a range of up to 500 kilometers, further enhancing convenience.
Solid state batteries can still maintain stable output under high temperature conditions, which makes it in aerospace and industrial applications have great potential.
Ⅳ.The Challenges of Commercialization
- While the prospect of solid-state batteries is very bright, some key challenges remain in the commercialization process:
- The high material cost and complicated process of preparation are the major drawbacks to the promotion at present, and there is a need for technology optimization and large-scale production to reduce costs.
- The interface impedance problem: The interface impedance of solid electrolyte and electrode is large, which restricts the actual performance of the battery and needs further improvement of the material design.
- The long-time stability and safety of solid-state batteries for large-scale applications have not been demonstrated yet.
As a representative of the next generation of energy technology, the solid-state battery is bringing new possibilities to many fields such as electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and aerospace, with great potential in core power sources. There will be continuous breakthroughs in technology and acceleration of commercialization; hence, it is expected that solid-state batteries will promote the development of the new energy revolution globally.
In the future, whoever can take the lead in solving the technical problems of solid-state batteries will be able to occupy a leading position in the field of new energy. This technology can fundamentally change the way we are living and give a powerful boost to the sustainable development of society.