A team of Korean scientists has made a major breakthrough in battery technology by creating the first universal design principles for solid-state batteries.
This new approach could revolutionize the way these batteries are developed, making them more efficient, safer, and powerful.
The research was led by Dr. Jinsoo Kim from the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) and Professor Sung-Kyun Jung from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).
The findings, published in Nature Communications, mark a significant shift in battery research.
Until now, developing solid-state batteries largely depended on trial and error, with researchers combining materials and adjusting designs based on experience rather than standardized guidelines.
This often led to inefficient development and inconsistent results.
Solid-state batteries are an exciting advancement in battery technology.
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that use flammable liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries use non-flammable solid electrolytes, which makes them much safer and less likely to catch fire.
They also have the potential to hold more energy, which is crucial as the world moves toward electrification and increased reliance on battery-powered devices and vehicles.
To address the lack of standard guidelines, the Korean research team introduced several key design principles for solid-state batteries.
These include the “balance threshold,” the “percolation threshold,” and the “loading threshold,” which help define the optimal conditions for building efficient and high-energy-density batteries.
The “balance threshold” refers to the ideal ratio of active materials and solid electrolytes in the battery.
By adjusting this ratio, researchers can balance between maximizing energy density (how much energy the battery can store) and power density (how quickly the battery can deliver energy).
The “percolation threshold” is the minimum density needed for the battery’s materials to maintain contact and allow the flow of lithium ions, which is essential for the battery to function. If the spaces between particles are too large, the battery won’t work properly.
The “loading threshold” helps determine the best thickness for the battery’s electrodes, ensuring that the battery can operate efficiently without significant voltage drops.
Using these principles, the research team successfully built a solid-state battery pouch cell with an impressive energy density of 310Wh/kg—higher than most commercial lithium-ion batteries. This battery also received official certification, proving the effectiveness of their design.
To help other researchers, the team developed a free, publicly available design toolkit called “SolidXCell.” This tool allows scientists to design solid-state batteries more easily and systematically, helping to speed up the development of these advanced batteries.
Looking ahead, the research team is establishing the Advanced Battery Engineering Foundry (ABEF) in Korea, a center dedicated to supporting the development and testing of next-generation batteries.
This facility will help companies create and refine prototypes of solid-state batteries and other advanced battery types, pushing the boundaries of battery technology even further.
