Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and TUMint.Energy Research have made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform the future of solid-state batteries.
They developed a new material made from lithium, antimony, and scandium that allows lithium ions to move more than 30% faster than any other known material.
This breakthrough was published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.
The team, led by Professor Thomas F. Fässler from TUM’s Chair of Inorganic Chemistry, created this new material by partially replacing lithium in a compound known as lithium antimonide with the metal scandium.
This small change had a big impact. Adding scandium introduced tiny gaps, called vacancies, in the crystal structure of the material.
These gaps act like open pathways, allowing lithium ions to move more easily and quickly through the material. This resulted in a new world record for ion conductivity.
The researchers were surprised by how much faster the ions moved compared to existing materials.
To be sure of their findings, they partnered with the Chair of Technical Electrochemistry at TUM, led by Professor Hubert Gasteiger, to double-check the results.
Co-author Tobias Kutsch, who was involved in the testing, noted that the new material also conducts electricity, which made the tests more challenging. The team had to adjust their measurement methods to account for this dual conductivity.
Professor Fässler sees enormous potential for this discovery. He explained that the small addition of scandium uncovered a new principle that could serve as a model for combining other elements to enhance ion movement.
Although more tests are needed before the material can be used in battery cells, the team is optimistic about its future applications.
They believe the material could be particularly useful as an additive in battery electrodes, where both ion and electron conductivity are important. To protect their invention, they have already filed a patent for the new material.
One of the standout features of this new material is its thermal stability, meaning it remains stable under high temperatures, which is crucial for battery safety and performance.
Moreover, the material can be produced using well-established chemical methods, making it easier to scale up for practical use.
The discovery also opened the door to an entirely new class of materials. According to Jingwen Jiang, a scientist at TUMint.Energy Research and the first author of the study, the same concept used in lithium-antimony compounds could be applied to other systems, like lithium-phosphorus.
This could lead to even more breakthroughs in enhancing conductivity for a wider range of materials.
What makes this development even more remarkable is its simplicity. The previous record holder for ion conductivity required lithium-sulfur and five additional elements to optimize its performance.
In contrast, the TUM researchers achieved record-breaking conductivity by adding only one element—scandium. This simplicity could make it easier and cheaper to produce high-performance solid-state batteries in the future.
With further testing and development, this new material could pave the way for safer, faster-charging, and longer-lasting solid-state batteries, revolutionizing everything from electric vehicles to renewable energy storage.
The researchers are hopeful that their discovery marks the beginning of a new era in battery technology.
