At the moment, lithium-ion batteries are still the standard in electric cars and smartphones. However, the disadvantages and problems they pose are common knowledge. First and foremost is the relatively short-range, i.e. runtime. Added to this are the long charging times and even batteries that start to burn. Which are also difficult to extinguish – unless they are completely submerged in water. This is difficult to do where a burning car is concerned. The crux of these batteries is the battery fluid. It is indispensable as a conductive medium between the positive and negative terminals. Last but not least, this type of battery requires a cooling circuit, which takes up more space and also entails additional weight.
This is quite a different matter with what are known as solid-state batteries. Here, the positive and negative pole are connected by a solid-state electrolyte, instead of a highly flammable, liquid form of electrolyte. In other words, they are ‘dry’. Hence the battery does not need extra cooling and the energy density of the battery is also greater. This in turn means that more electricity can be stored with less weight and less volume. T
Ilika plc (LON:IKA) is a pioneer in solid state battery technology enabling solutions for applications in Industrial IoT, MedTech, Electric Vehicles and Consumer Electronics.
