At present, almost all large car companies and leading battery manufacturers are continuously promoting the research and development and industrialization of solid-state batteries. Solid state batteries developed by some companies also show significant advantages over lithium-ion batteries. However, many achievements are still in the laboratory stage, and it is still too early to realize industrialization. Solid-state power batteries have higher requirements in terms of safety, manufacturing technology, and consistency with vehicles, which are all challenges that companies must overcome.
As the next generation of new battery technology, solid state battery has been gaining popularity in recent years, which has formed a new investment boom in the industry.
Recently, Phineng Technology (hereinafter referred to as "Phineng Technology"), a solid-state lithium battery technology company, announced that it has completed a D round of financing of nearly US $100 million from investors including Bank of China Investment and FAW Industry Fund. This round of financing will be used for the commercialization of solid-state lithium batteries and the construction of factories. "We expect to complete the trial run of the 1GWh vehicle-borne solid-state battery production line this year and start mass production in 2021, which will be four to five years earlier than our peers." "Said the company.
Highly sought after by enterprises
The reporter learned that Phanergy Technology was founded in 2006, and realized the commercial mass production of solid-state lithium batteries in 2013. It was used in the field of consumer electronics at the early stage, and in recent years, it has been used in the field of new energy vehicles. In March of this year, Phantom unveiled its new stackable solid-state lithium battery (SSB). Instead of liquid or gel polymers, SSB batteries use an oxide ceramic electrolyte, which can extend battery life, shorten charging time, and be safer without fire or explosion, according to the data.
"SSB batteries are lighter, more energy efficient and safer than the lithium-ion batteries currently in use for electric vehicles, with an overall energy density of 29 to 56 percent higher." Currently, the energy density of its on-board solid-state battery packs has reached 190Wh/kg, and is expected to reach 270Wh/kg by 2022, according to data released by Phanergy Technology.
"We research route of solid oxide has been more than 13 years, to overcome the bottleneck and production process preparation of challenge, create a solid-state lithium battery core ceramics, such as bipolar battery pack exclusive patented technology, can solve the problem of the safety of the electric vehicle and range anxiety at the same time, and service life is longer than traditional lithium-ion batteries, but 5 c fast charge, high and low temperature resistance." "Said Yang Si-nan, founder of Huineng Technology.
Fai can, in fact, science and technology is not the only one to promote solid-state batteries of the enterprise, at present, almost all the major car companies, leading battery manufacturers in the ongoing research and development and industrialization of exploration of solid-state batteries, including multinational companies such as BMW, mercedes-benz, panasonic and samsung, as well as the domestic era of ningde, byd, the porch tech center, jiangsu ceramics enterprises.
"There is not a single manufacturer that is not completely focused on solid-state batteries. For the next generation of new technology direction, every strong manufacturer will pay attention to, research, to stay competitive." China chemistry and physical battery industry association secretary general Liu Yanlong frankly.
Technical and cost challenges need to be overcome
Although from the perspective of technology and performance, solid-state battery is very likely to become the mainstream choice after ternary battery electric vehicle, but from the current progress, due to its industrialization conditions are still not mature, the development is still faced with many difficulties.
"Four factors should be considered in the development of solid-state batteries -- a stable chemical interface between the electrolyte and electrode, effective tools for characterization, a sustainable manufacturing process, and a recyclable design." One of the institutions involved in solid-state battery research, the University of California, San Diego, recently released a paper that focuses on four major challenges facing solid-state battery technology development.
"It's important to note that we should be thinking about how to address these challenges at the same time, because they are all interrelated. If we are to ensure that the technology for all-solid-state batteries is reliable, then solutions must be found to address both of these challenges." Shirley Ymeng, a professor of nanoengineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego.
In addition to the technical hurdles to be overcome, there is a widespread belief in the industry that solid-state batteries are too expensive to be mass-produced to compete with lithium-ion batteries.
"For example, whether solid electrolyte can be fast charged or not, I think if dual core technology is used, the energy density of Phanergy's solid state battery is basically equivalent to that of using the same active material, that is, it can be fast charged." Mr. Yang gave an example of the high cost of solid-state batteries. "The only problem is the price of the solid electrolyte itself."
Many advances are still in the laboratory
Reporters have noted that in order to be able to seize the opportunity when the next generation of battery technology change, there are many power battery enterprises in the active research and development of solid-state battery related technology, but also obtained a certain breakthrough. However, on the problem of industrialization, the industry generally thinks that it is still too early.
"Solid-state batteries are hard to commercialize." Liu Yanlong said that at present, many enterprises have made solid-state battery test samples, but most are still in the experimental stage, whether it can reach the car level application has yet to be verified.
For example, Samsung recently released the latest progress in solid-state battery research, and proposed a solution to the problems of lithium dendrite and charge-discharge efficiency that have plagued the mass production of all-solid-state batteries. Data show that the size of the battery using this technology will be 50% smaller than the same capacity of traditional lithium-ion batteries, a single charge can reach 800 kilometers, up to 1,000 cycles. However, the reporter noted that the technology has only been proven in the laboratory and will not be put on the market in the short term.
Other companies also said they could not mass produce. Fraser Technology admitted recently that the newly developed SSB battery is still difficult to achieve large-scale production and application. A director of battery development in the era of Ningde said blunter: "The all-solid-state battery in the era of Ningde is still in development, and samples have been made, but it will not be commercialized until after 2030."