Solid-state batteries have significant advantages over lithium-ion batteries. Here’s what stands in the way of mass distribution.
Solid-state batteries have significant advantages over lithium-ion.
At the top of the advantages list are increased safety and improved lifespan.
The tech isn’t ready for the billions of batteries the industry would need.
The other day, I reviewed a power bank with a solid-state battery at its core, rather than a lithium-ion battery. Solid-state batteries offer increased energy density, improved safety, and a longer lifespan. To demonstrate the improved safety profile, I opened the power bank and stabbed a screwdriver into a fully charged battery; apart from a few wisps of smoke, nothing happened.
So, why aren’t our iPhones and other gadgets and gizmos powered by solid-state batteries?
Before we answer that question, let’s look at what a solid-state battery is and how it differs from a lithium-ion battery. Solid-state versus lithium-ion
Solid-state batteries are next-generation rechargeable batteries that use solid electrolytes (the material that carries the electric charge between the battery’s anode and cathode), rather than the typical liquid or gel electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries.
The electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries are typically lithium salts dissolved in a cocktail of noxious and flammable organic solvents, whereas in solid-state batteries, various dry ceramics are used.
