Samsung presents new All-Solid-State Battery Technology

Last March 9 in London, the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) alongside the Samsung R&D Institute Japan (SRJ), presented their new study on high-performance, long-lasting all-solid-state batteries to Nature Energy.

These new all-solid-state batteries will be able to support larger battery capacities because of their ability to support higher energy density and utilize solid electrolytes, which are safer than traditional lithium-ion batteries.

However, there is some concern regarding the use of lithium metal anodes typically used in all-solid-state batteries as these are prone to trigger the growth of dendrites, needle-like crystals that can develop on the anode of a battery during charging. These dendrites can reduce the lifespan and safety of a battery. To counter these effects, Samsung proposed to use a silver-carbon (Ag-C) composite layer as the anode. By incorporating a composite layer in a prototype pouch cell, the team found that this enabled the battery to support a larger capacity, a longer cycle life, and enhanced its overall safety. Compared to a traditional lithium-ion battery, the prototype is approximately 50 percent smaller by volume thanks to the ultrathin Ag-C nanocomposite layer, which measures just 5µm (micrometers) thick. Because of the ultrathin Ag-C nanocomposite layer, the team was able to reduce anode thickness and increase the energy density up to 900Wh/L.

In practice, this research will be used on electric vehicles (EVs) as the prototype the team developed would enable EVs to travel up to 800km on a single charge and have a cycle life of over 1,000 charges.

The leader of the project and Master at SAIT’s Next Generation Battery Lab, Dongmin Im, mentioned that they plan to continue to develop and refine all-solid-state battery materials and manufacturing technologies to help bring EV battery innovation to the next level. He also hopes that through this study, they can make safer, high-performance batteries that could be used in the future.

This article was written by Sofia Tan.