Researchers develop solid state batteries

Japanese researchers have developed a method for making batteries based on lithium-ion technology that work with a solid electrolyte. The batteries would function just as well as ones with a liquid electrolyte.

Virtually all lithium ion batteries on the market use two electrodes connected by a liquid electrolyte, which allows the lithium ions to move. During use, the lithium ions migrate from one electrode to another, a process that is reversed during charging. In order to guarantee good mobility of the ions, the electrolyte is liquid, but this has disadvantages such as leakage sensitivity.

A group of researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology and some research institutes has developed a permanent alternative. They used a crystalline structure of sulfur, phosphorus, germanium and lithium, which allows for the mobility of ions, but is not liquid. This superionic conductor, as the researchers used the material to describe, could conduct ions just like ‘wet’ electrolytes. This should lead to easier to produce, cheaper and safer batteries.