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A significant advancement in battery technology has been made by researchers from South Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). Their work promises to unlock the potential for safer, lighter, and more efficient solid-state batteries, a crucial step forward in the pursuit of next-generation energy storage solutions.
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, which use liquid electrolytes that pose flammability risks, solid-state batteries replace these with a solid electrolyte. However, developing solid electrolytes has proven difficult, as previous methods produced thick membranes, sometimes up to 1 millimeter, reducing the overall energy density of the batteries.
ETRI’s breakthrough lies in the creation of an ultra-thin solid electrolyte membrane just 18 micrometers thick. By utilizing a special binder material that forms tiny fibers under mechanical stress, the researchers were able to significantly reduce the membrane’s thickness without compromising performance.
According to the Press Release, this new membrane enables the production of high-energy density batteries, with the potential to improve energy storage by up to ten times compared to current solid-state designs with thicker membranes. In a demonstration of its viability, the team successfully built a pouch-type cell battery incorporating the new membrane, showing that it works efficiently and holds promise for commercial applications.
Moreover, the team’s dry-process manufacturing method eliminates the need for environmentally harmful solvents, further improving the sustainability of the battery production process. This dry method creates more conductive membranes, enhances the mechanical strength of the membrane, and allows for precise control over its thickness.
The discovery of an optimal binder material and manufacturing technique could lead to the large-scale production of these advanced membranes, resulting in smaller, lighter, and higher-performing solid-state batteries. As energy density improves, these innovations could bring solid-state batteries closer to commercial viability, offering a safer, more efficient alternative to current battery technologies.
