Page 43 - EE Times Europe Magazine – November 2023

EE|Times EUROPE 43

Unveiling Trends and Insights in Solid-State Battery Technology

endeavor characterized by regional interests
and substantial governmental support.
WHEN WILL SSBs BECOME A MARKET
REALITY?
A persistent question is: When will SSBs
become a market reality? To answer this
question, it is important to have a clearer
definition of SSBs. Polymer-based SSBs are
already available in the market, and semi/
hybrid/pseudo SSBs are undergoing trials.
Meanwhile, ceramic-based all-solid-state
batteries (ASSBs) remain firmly in the realm
of developmental pursuits.
In the strictest sense, authentic SSBs
should exclusively denote those devoid of any
presence of liquid or gel polymers. However,
semi/hybrid/pseudo SSBs can also provide
great value propositions, such as improved Battery design considerations (Source: IDTechEx)
safety and heightened energy density,
particularly favored by automotive OEMs, processing temperature, wide electrochem- stable to lithium metal, with good electro-
regardless of whether any liquid components ical stability window, etc. Many features chemical and thermal stability. However, the
are incorporated. In the public domain, make them appealing, being considered by higher interface resistance and higher-cost,
they may also be referred to as “solid-state many as the ultimate SSE option. However, lower-yield manufacturing processes show
batteries.” the difficulty of manufacturing and the toxic some difficulties in general.
There are various technological by-product hydrogen sulfide generated in It is believed that the polymer system is
approaches in the broad-speaking SSB the process make the commercialization closest to commercialization, followed by the
regime. Among them, oxide, sulfide and relatively slow. Polymer systems are easy semi-solid oxide system. Sulfide systems have
polymer systems have become the most to fabricate, are compatible with existing gained the most attention recently, but they
popular options in next-generation devel- manufacturing processes and have exist- may take the longest.
opment, with further variations under each ing commercialization examples, while the
category. In general, sulfide electrolytes have relatively high operating temperature, low HOW CAN WE GET THERE?
advantages of high ionic conductivity, which anti-oxide potential and worse stability Considering the high capex, similar opex
is even better than liquid electrolyte, low indicate challenges. An oxide system is more compared with conventional Li-ion

Global major solid-state battery players (Source: IDTechEx)

www.eetimes.eu | NOVEMBER 2023