No end in sight for lithium-ion dependence

Solid-state batteries continue to garner significant attention in the diversification of energy storage solutions, but there are several challenges to overcome before they become mainstream alternatives.

Dr Veronika Wright has a PhD in Technical Physics from Graz University of Technology in Austria, and she believes we’re ‘stuck’ in a good way with lithium-ion batteries for some time to come. And while variations of battery composition will become available in the years ahead, the reliance on lithium remains strong.

A consultant in battery technology and innovation, Dr Wright explains that lithium is one of the smallest atoms, after hydrogen and helium, which is why we can achieve higher energy density and it’s also lightweight, and in abundant supply, which is why it’s so favourably positioned.

“It’s not going away.” says Dr Wright.

However, it’s solid-state batteries that she loves talking about mostly. And she’s sceptical.

“We have to be very, very careful when talking about solid-state batteries because there is such a variety of different ones and people get confused.”

Dr Veronika explains that a ‘true solid-state battery’ has a solid electrolyte, compared to the traditional lithium-ion battery with a liquid electrolyte. And it’s this potentially flammable liquid component that has raised questions about safety in certain cases. True solid-state batteries are considered safer, because of their solid electrolyte.

But Dr Veronika warns of the need to be wary.

“A lot of start-ups out there and companies, when they talk about ‘solid-state’, they actually talk about semi-solid-state batteries and these batteries… they still have a liquid electrolyte, so they can still catch fire and so we would not have this benefit of the safety.

And then secondly, the true solid-state battery cell, so those with the solid electrolyte, they have a problem which not a lot of people talk about. They do mechanically expand by up to 20 per cent when you charge them… there is a volume expansion there on a cell level. And now at the same time they [the batteries] need a lot of mechanical pressure to work -

because you have a solid electrolyte, and the ions have a hard time getting back and forth without the mechanical compression. So, you have something that expands and at the same time needs high pressure… so the integration of solid-state cells into bigger packs is a nightmare.”

In addition to Veronika’s scepticism about the use of solid-state batteries, she also points out that the continued reliance on lithium does nothing to help us diversify the battery technology portfolio, including the different raw materials necessary for alternatives to lithium-ion.

A regular at industry conferences, Dr Veronika cites any number of professors who have dedicated their careers to researching solid-state capabilities at a cellular level…. subsequently leaving it up to the OEM to figure out how to integrate it into a viable end product.

Tune in to Episode 8 for the full interview.

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