5 Reasons For The Popularity Solid State Batteries
Conventional batteries are designed with double solid mental electrodes with liquid lithium salt to work as an electrolyte. To charge this battery requires two ionic particles to move from the cathode to the anode. Reverse movement causes a discharge. The lithium salt acts as a medium to promote this movement.
A solid-state battery has positive and negative electrodes with metal alloy pieces working as the electrolyte. Carmakers and industrial owners are spurring immense development of solid-state batteries for their immense benefits in various industries. Read on to discover why the future is bright for solid-state batteries and their application.
Higher charge density
A solid-state battery relies on a solid compound providing higher energy density to store more energy. An illustration is a glass that stores more energy with less weight. Solid-state batteries store about three to five times more energy compared to conventional lithium-ion counterparts. This encourages allowing for higher autonomy. Additionally, solid-state batteries have extended charge and discharge cycles to prolong useful life. These batteries are less prone to passive drainage that might happen when not in use.
Faster charging times
The electrolyte in solid state batteries allows charging in a few minutes. In fact, the charging period for a solid state battery is six times less than that of lithium-ion batteries. Solid inorganic compounds such as glass in solid state batteries support the easy and fast movement of electrodes. The solid state battery has the anode, cathode, and electrolyte compressed into three flat layers in place of electrodes in a liquid electrolyte.
It is now easy for solid state battery manufacturers to acquire solid electrolyte materials for making smaller and flatter batteries that hold more energy compared to bulkier conventional batteries. Regardless of whether you are considering replacing your laptop or phone battery with a solid state one, be sure to get much more charge. Imagine having a much thinner and smaller device with more charge.
Toxic-free
Elimination of liquid electrolyte makes solid state batteries toxic-free. There is no need to worry about spills from flammable liquid and don’t output heat as conventional batteries. You can use a solid state battery anywhere including your electric car seamlessly with faster recharge. The ions in solid state batteries move much quicker between the cathode and anode.
According to research, a solid state battery beats conventional batteries by 500 percent in terms of capacity. Additionally, these batteries charge by up to a tenth better than regular batteries. The solid electrolyte in solid state batteries leads to a smaller footprint compared to lithium batteries of similar size.
Safer use
Solid state batteries inhibit the formation of dendrites to limit potential explosion and fires compared to regular rechargeable batteries. Using a solid state battery makes you safer. Less heat is required to heat the electrolyte in a solid state battery eliminates the need for a safety or cooling system to manage heat buildup. Additionally, solid state batteries don’t need electrodes’ separators or protective waterproof covering. All these add up to lower the cost, weight, and volume of a solid state battery.
Cost reduction
Traditional batteries need liquid lithium-ion that is costly to purchase over time. The cost of this electrolyte heavily depends on the availability of materials including cobalt. Luckily, solid state batteries don’t need any liquid electrolyte cutting maintenance costs significantly. The easy and quick manufacture of materials such as glass in solid state batteries reduces overall production.
There is an opportunity to produce sustainable materials for solid state batteries compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. The use of costly, unsustainable, and scarce raw materials like cobalt in traditional batteries is going to be a thing of the past.
Application of solid-state batteries
Any device that uses a battery can switch to a solid state battery. The electric car market is becoming quickly adopting the use of solid state batteries. Carmakers including Tesla, Toyota , and BMW are racing to produce cars powered by solid state batteries. Current electric vehicles that use lithium-ion batteries are prone to fires from overheating and puncture. Avoiding this makes carmakers to invest in cooling systems that lessen effective driving range and add extra weight to the vehicle.
Luckily, solid state batteries rely on solid material electrolyte. This allows working in a wider temperature range, output more energy density, weightless, charge faster, and less prone to damage. A solid state battery overcomes most of the shortcomings of conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Bottom line
The future is bright for solid state batteries give the various shortcomings of conventional lithium-ion batteries. The adoption of solid state batteries by car makers creates great potential in the industry as other industries are picking it up as well. Additionally, solid state materials are now readily available from established manufacturers to serve the growing market.