Commercial solid-state batteries in 2025 will become the disruptor of lithium batteries?

1. Solid-state batteries-the next generation of high-performance lithium batteries Sony launched commercial liquid lithium batteries in 1991, and then liquid lithium batteries entered rapid development. Since 2015, due to the global wave of automotive electrification, car companies have continued to pursue long-lasting and high-safety power lithium-ion batteries to promote continuous innovation in battery research and development. As an example in China, my country’s power lithium-ion battery has shifted from lithium iron phosphate to high nickel ternary, but suppliers speculate that relying on the existing ternary system in the next five years, it is difficult to achieve a single energy density of power lithium battery higher than 350Wh/kg. The goal is to fail to meet national requirements. In addition, in the process of shifting lithium iron phosphate to high-nickel ternary, many car companies have battery spontaneous combustion accidents (the ternary battery has high energy density but poor safety), causing consumer safety concerns. Because of the pursuit of higher energy density and higher safety, countries are currently stepping up the research and development of solid-state batteries. Compared with liquid lithium batteries, solid-state batteries have the following advantages: 1) Solid-state batteries replace liquid electrolytes with solid electrolytes, which greatly reduces the risk of thermal runaway; 2) The electrochemical window of solid-state batteries can reach more than 5V, which is higher than liquid lithium batteries (4.2V) , Allowing matching of high-energy positive electrodes and metal lithium negative electrodes, greatly increasing the theoretical energy density; 3) Solid-state batteries can simplify packaging and cooling systems, further reducing the weight of the battery in a limited space, and the volumetric energy density is more than 70% higher than that of liquid lithium batteries (graphite negative electrodes) , Reaching 500Wh/kg. Of course, solid-state batteries are also facing many technical obstacles at this stage, including: 1) The conductivity of most solid electrolytes is more than 10 times lower than that of the electrolyte, and the fast charging performance is not good; 2) The physical contact becomes worse during the cycle, which affects the use. Life; 3) The preparation process is complicated. Generally speaking, due to the pursuit of higher energy density and higher safety, countries are currently stepping up the research and development of solid-state batteries in order to seize the technological high point. Even if it takes time to realize the industrialization of all-solid-state batteries, the technological innovations in the process have been continuously applied to enhance product capabilities. 2. Government guidance, solid-state batteries have entered the 'arms race' stage. Governments in recent years have successively introduced policies to support the new energy vehicle industry. Many countries have defined solid-state battery development goals and industrial technology plans: 2020-2025, strive to increase battery energy density and move to solid state Battery transformation, commercialized all-solid-state batteries were developed in 2030. In my country, some companies have entered the pilot test stage of solid-state lithium batteries (semi-solid batteries), and mass production may be achieved before 2025, such as Ningde Times, Huineng Technology, etc. In Japan and South Korea, Toyota plans to achieve mass production of electric vehicles equipped with solid-state batteries in 2022. At present, the solid-state battery technology of Japanese companies is relatively leading on a global scale, and many Japanese and Korean companies choose to group together for research and development. Europe is seeking to make a comeback in the field of solid-state batteries, and major European and American auto companies have invested in solid-state battery start-ups. For example, the start-up companies SolidPower, SolidEnergySystems, QuantumScape, etc. derived from American universities. Obviously, the field of solid-state batteries has entered the stage of an 'arms race' with many market participants. Car companies, battery companies, investment institutions, and scientific research institutions are playing games in terms of capital, technology, and talent. Most organizations expect that, in accordance with the current development situation, solid-state batteries will achieve commercial mass production in 2025. From the perspective of evolution, the development of solid-state battery technology is expected to adopt a gradual subversion strategy, with the liquid electrolyte content gradually decreasing, and all-solid-state batteries are the final form. 3. Lithium battery disruptor? QuantumScape, a solid-state battery company, soared 10 times in January. The US solid-state battery company QuantumScape went public this year through a backdoor listing. Its stock price has soared 10 times in the past two months, and its latest market value is as high as 41.4 billion US dollars. With such a huge increase, what is QuantumScape's confidence? The star team and industry giants endorsed it. QuantumScape was founded in 2010 by Stanford University scientists Jagdeep Singh, FritzPrinz and Tim Holme, and it mainly develops solid-state batteries. It is worth mentioning that the QuantumScape board of directors gathered together. Doerr-partner of KleinerPerkinsCaufieldByers, the largest venture fund in the United States; JBStraubel-as the former chief technology officer and co-founder of Tesla, he was responsible for the research and development of Tesla batteries. In addition, two directors are related to its largest shareholder, Volkswagen Group. As early as 2012, Volkswagen has already cooperated with QuantumScape. In 2018, Volkswagen invested 100 million US dollars in QuantumScape, becoming its largest shareholder, and announced the establishment of a joint venture company, hoping to realize the industrialization of solid-state battery processing. According to roadshow information, QuantumScape investors also include Bill #8226 Gates, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Qatar Investment Authority, SAIC and Continental. Before going public, QuantumScape has received more than US$800 million in financing. In terms of products, QuantumScape announced the latest performance data of its solid-state battery technology on December 8, saying that its solid-state battery energy density is as high as 400Wh/kg, the cruising range that can be supplied to electric vehicles will be 80% higher, and it can be charged in 15 minutes. %. According to China Gold Analysis, QuantumScape's solid-state battery route is a lanthanum zirconate lithium garnet-like composite oxide solid-state battery under an oxide system, and the mainstream electrolyte system is Li3La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), that is, lithium lanthanum zirconate. QuantumScape CEO Jagdeep Singh believes that the subsequent commercialization 'task' is not difficult. The next step will be to solve engineering and manufacturing problems. He plans to cooperate with Volkswagen for mass production of solid-state batteries in 2024. With breakthroughs in product performance, talents, and gold owners, can QuantumScape become a disruptor of lithium batteries? Disclaimer: Some pictures and content of articles published on this site are from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact to delete. Previous: A publicly supported solid-state battery manufacturer intends to go public with a backdoor valuation of US$3.3 billion