High energy density all-solid-state battery prototype available

Currently, Toyota is working hard to develop all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries and has developed battery prototypes with an energy density of 400 Wh/L.

Recently, Toyota researchers said that this kind of battery will be commercially applied around 2020 and will be substantially improved by 2025.

Conventional batteries typically use liquid electrolytes that may suffer from undesirable chemical reactions that can damage the battery cathode. Replacing the liquid electrolyte with solid ion conductors can improve battery stability and service life because the battery can be made smaller because no additional components are needed to keep it stable.

Solid electrolytes can also be compatible with a wider range of battery chemistries, potentially providing higher power or storage densities.

Solid-state lithium-ion batteries have a higher volumetric energy density than current commercial lithium-ion batteries, and have improved packaging efficiency, safety, and long cycle life. In addition, the researchers also pointed out that lithium-ion batteries cannot be commercialized until 2030.

However, current all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries are also limited in power density, and one of the main reasons is that the lithium ions in the interface between the positive electrode and the solid electrolyte interface are largely blocked.

Therefore, one of the development directions of solid-state batteries is to increase power density. Researchers are working on three main areas of work, first to develop a better solid electrolyte, including oxide-based, sulfide-based, nitride-based, etc., and secondly to design and improve the electrode/electrolyte interface to reduce the interface resistance, and to Improve the lithium ion conductivity of the electrode active material.