Solid-state batteries enter EV fray
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Energy Sector Analysis
All-solid-state batteries are an emerging option for next-generation technologies
Solid-state batteries enter EV fray By Arthur L. Robinson Feature Editor Jürgen Janek
L
ithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes power most of the electric vehicles (EVs) that are widely seen as an essential step toward halting the march of global warming. But EVs currently cost significantly more while suffering from a lower driving range than gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. Despite significant lithium-ion battery advances in the last two decades, many in the field feel that further progress will crest in the next few years and are seeking a successor technology. All-solid-state batteries most likely based on mobile lithium ions are an emerging option for next-generation technologies on the road to a safe, green vehicle with attractive cost and performance. What sets them apart is the use of an inorganic solid electrolyte rather than the organic liquid electrolyte embedded in a moist paste found in virtually all commercial lithium-ion batteries. One obvious virtue of a switch to the solid-state is the reduction, if not elimination, of the fire risk associated with flammable organic electrolytes when short circuits drive up the temperature. Performance improvements, such as a higher volumetric energy density (Wh/L) to increase the driving range between charges and sufficient power density (W/L) to make energy available when needed, are just as important. Researchers also tout long cycle life and shelf life as significant improvements over today’s lithium-ion batteries that degrade after a few years. Despite these theoretical advantages, there is a long way to go before all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries begin appearing in electric vehicles. “A battery revolution is not just waiting for us around the corner,” said Jürgen Janek of Justus Liebig University Giessen. “Solid-state batteries require serious efforts not only in fundamental science but also in processing technology,” he said. Among the key choices to be made for any battery are the electrode and electrolyte materials. Once these are identified and workable laboratory-scale prototypes are developed, then comes the perhaps even more difficult chore of perfecting fabrication and packaging technologies that are inexpensive, rapid, and reliable on a large scale. Peter Lamp from BMW in Munich added, “It is just as important to produce a device with sufficient mechanical stability, since large volume variations in the battery materials during operation have to be taken into account. The impact of additional mechanical stress that may originate from vibrations during car operation also deserves careful evaluation.”
Jürgen Janek, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany Arthur L. Robinson, [email protected]
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MRS BULLETIN
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VOLUME 39 • DECEMBER 2014
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www.mrs.org/bulletin • Energy Quarterly
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