Will solid-state batteries change the world?

Applied Materials announced the start of shipment of equipment necessary for the production of solid-state batteries, which by their characteristics are twice as good as existing Li-ion.

Solid-state batteries, as they are called, are used in specialized equipment, for example, in autonomous wireless sensors. But they are too expensive if we are talking about the release of the necessary capacity, for example, a modern smartphone. Although they have a number of interesting characteristics, until now they have conquered only narrow niches.

Liquid electrolytes used in conventional lithium-ion batteries are replaced by solid ones. Liquid electrolyte, as practice has shown, in some cases ignites, and its absence ensures greater safety of the batteries and the ability to manufacture a battery of almost any shape.


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For many years, the main problem with this technology was that solid electrolyte has a much lower conductivity than liquid, which imposes a limit on power. Applied Materials reports that they managed to achieve a solution to the problem of conductivity by doping solid electrolyte. Also stated is the solution to the problem of creating high-quality electrodes and electrolyte of large size without gaps in the layers, the presence of which previously led to a short circuit.

As I noted above, an important feature of solid-state batteries is that they can be made in non-standard forms, since they do not contain liquid electrolyte. Hypothetically, thin solid-state batteries can be packaged even in a flexible bracelet.

Ultimately, according to the manufacturer, new batteries can store up to two times more energy than modern lithium-ion batteries, and this will help the new product to capture new niches - wearable devices, mobile phones and many others.

The equipment already shipped by Applied Materials allows for particularly high-precision deposition of materials over large areas and will be used for prototyping, testing and demonstrating solid-state batteries of a new class.

Applied Materials does not report the specific technical characteristics of solid-state batteries manufactured by the new technology. While there is no specific data about cost, capacity or charging time, the manufacturer reports its great success in solving the main problems that limit the use of solid-state batteries. And their entry into the mass market can provide a breakthrough in several areas of electronics at once.

The company also did not disclose buyers of equipment for the production of batteries, which have already been shipped, however, it is reported that the first will be released batteries for wearable devices, where the size of the battery is the main limitation.

How do you think good old solid-state batteries with the stated capabilities will be able to change modern gadgets? Will there finally be a flexible iPad or real electronic paper?