Solid-state batteries are a type of battery technology that, unlike the commonly used lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries, use solid electrodes and solid electrolytes.
Since the scientific community believes that lithium-ion batteries have reached their limit, solid-state batteries have been regarded in recent years as the batteries that can succeed lithium-ion batteries. Solid-state lithium battery technology uses a glass compound made of lithium and sodium as the conductive material, replacing the electrolyte of previous lithium batteries, which greatly improves the energy density of lithium batteries.
In solid-state ionics, a solid-state battery is a type of battery that uses solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte. Solid-state batteries generally have lower power density but higher energy density. Due to their high power density, solid-state batteries are ideal for electric vehicles.
The principle of solid-state batteries
Traditional liquid lithium batteries are figuratively called "rocking chair batteries" by scientists. The two ends of the rocking chair are the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, and the middle is the electrolyte (liquid). Lithium ions are like excellent athletes, running back and forth between the two ends of the rocking chair. The charging and discharging process of the battery is completed in the process of lithium ions moving from the positive electrode to the negative electrode and back to the positive electrode.
Solid-state batteries operate on the same principle, except their electrolyte is solid. This solid electrolyte's density and structure allow more charged ions to accumulate at one end, conducting a larger current and thus increasing battery capacity. Therefore, for the same amount of power, solid-state batteries are smaller. Furthermore, the absence of electrolyte in solid-state batteries makes storage easier. When used in large equipment such as automobiles, additional cooling pipes and electronic controls are unnecessary, saving costs and effectively reducing weight.
Solid-state batteries may be one of the future directions of battery technology, but they may not be the best. Some technicians say that "fuel cells, supercapacitors, aluminum-air batteries, and magnesium batteries all have great potential for development in terms of concepts, but ultimately, it depends on which route develops faster and is more practical."
