Researchers from the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the Samsung R&D Institute Japan (SRJ) recently presented a study on high performance, long lasting all solid state batteries to scientific journal Nature Energy.
Compared to widely used lithium ion batteries, which use liquid electrolytes, all solid state batteries support greater energy density which opens the door for larger capacity and use solid electrolytes which are demonstrably safer.
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However, the lithium metal anodes which are frequently used in all solid state batteries are prone to trigger the growth of dendrites which can produce undesirable side effects that reduce a battery's lifespan and safety.
To overcome those effects, Samsung's researchers proposed using, for the first time, a silver-carbon (Ag-C) composite layer as the anode. The team found that incorporating an Ag-C layer into a prototype pouch cell enabled the battery to support a larger capacity, a longer cycle life, and enhanced its overall safety. Measuring 5µm (micrometers) thick, the ultrathin Ag-C nanocomposite layer allowed the team to reduce anode thickness and increase energy density up to 900Wh/L. It also enabled them to make their prototype approximately 50% smaller by volume than a conventional lithium ion battery.
This promising research is expected to help drive the expansion of electric vehicles (EVs). The prototype pouch cell that the team developed would enable an EV to travel up to 800km (500 miles) on a single charge with a cycle life of over 1,000 charges.
As Dongmin Im, 'master' at SAIT's next generation battery lab and the leader of the project, said: "The product of this study could be a seed technology for safer, high performance batteries of the future.
"Going forward, we will continue to develop and refine all-solid-state battery materials and manufacturing technologies to help take EV battery innovation to the next level."
