Chinese technology team makes breakthrough in solid-state battery technology, bringing it closer to mass production

[PCauto] Recently, a research team led by Huang Xuejie from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published a groundbreaking research in the journal "Nature Sustainability." For the first time, they have addressed the fundamental challenge of electrode-electrolyte interface contact through anion regulation strategy.

Huang Xuejie’s Team Endows Self-Healing Capability to Solid-State Batteries

All-solid-state lithium batteries have long faced challenges in transitioning from the laboratory to practical application, primarily due to volume fluctuations of the lithium metal anode and poor interfacial contact. Conventional approaches relying on external mechanical pressure devices not only add extra weight to the battery system but also increase manufacturing costs.

Huang Xuejie’s team achieved a breakthrough by developing an "intelligent self-healing" technology. They added iodide ions (acting like a "glue") to the electrolyte. When the battery operates, the electric field drives these iodide ions to move to the electrode surface, forming an iodine-rich interface.

This interface actively draws in positively charged lithium ions and autonomously fills all gaps. Much like a magnet attracting iron filings, it achieves an atomically close contact between the electrode and the electrolyte.

The entire process operates without external pressurization equipment, simplifying the manufacturing process and significantly enhancing both the cycle life and safety of the battery.

This self-healing mechanism allows the battery to maintain stability even after repeated charging and discharging cycles, thereby paving the way for more reliable energy solutions in applications like electric vehicles.

New Material Improves the Lifespan of Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries

Meanwhile, the team has developed a Topology Fortified Anode (TFA) material. The optimization of the scaffold structure and the electroactive lithium phase ratio led to two critical enhancements:

First, it exhibits substantially enhanced mechanical stability, with nearly zero volume change during cycling compared to a pure lithium metal anode, effectively preventing interface separation.

Second, the porous scaffold facilitates accelerated lithium-ion diffusion, providing rapid transport pathways and achieving a diffusion rate three times higher than that of pure lithium.

In addition, the TFA structure boasts a pressure tolerance five times greater than pure lithium, enabling stable battery operation over a wider range of external pressure conditions.

The Huang Xuejie Team Has Assembled and Tested Full Cells

A 62% utilization rate of active lithium was achieved in a full cell with a high-capacity FeS₂ cathode, thereby enabling greater energy release to power high-endurance devices.

The cell retained approximately 70% of its capacity after 800 cycles at a high current density, significantly outperforming the cycle performance of conventional liquid lithium-ion batteries.

Moreover, the safety of the battery has been demonstrated to be reliable. TFA material suppresses the growth of lithium dendrites (a major cause of short circuits in solid-state batteries), and even after multiple cycles, no cracks or damage have been observed in the electrolyte.

This Technology Has Received Industry and Market Recognition

Professor Chunsheng Wang from the University of Maryland, a solid-state battery expert, commented: "The work by Huang Xuejie's team has addressed the primary obstacle to the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries—the interface contact problem—which is an important milestone for practical implementation."

The capital market has also shown strong confidence. After the announcement, the leading battery ETF rose over 2% in a single day , and the stock prices of companies like CATL and BYD also increased significantly. Some experts have pointed out that the interface issue represents the final hurdle for all-solid-state batteries. The breakthrough achieved by the Chinese research team has instilled confidence in the industry regarding its commercialization prospects.