The all-ceramic solid-state lithium-ion battery combines high thermal stability and non-flammability for miniature and wearable electronics.
Researchers at Tsinghua University have created an all-ceramic solid-state lithium-ion battery (ACMLB), which can power miniature devices that function in harsh conditions. This type of battery operates at temperature up to 150°C and withstands thermal shocks of up to 300°C for 20 seconds. As the researchers claim, this type of battery is non-flammable, does not require external pressure to maintain its structural stability, and can be manufactured in ambient air rather than in vacuum conditions. Thus, it can be used for wearable electronics, industrial IoT sensors, aerospace devices, and even for military purposes.
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, which contain flammable liquid electrolytes, the ACMLB contains all-ceramic solid electrolytes, making it more thermally stable and safer. In order to produce ceramic batteries with high mechanical strength and thin structure, researchers used a multilayer ceramic stacking approach. When co-sintered, a chemically formed interface layer fills inner gaps, bonds the ceramic layers together, and provides efficient transportation of lithium ions, enabling higher capacity in individual cells.
During room temperature testing, the battery showed 76.2 per cent of the initial capacity remaining after 100 charge cycles. A battery made up of 10 parallel cells, The battery exhibited an initial capacity of 105 μAh capacity and after 100 charge cycles, it maintained 80 μAh capacity and maintained stable electrochemical performance.
In addition, the researchers noted that the battery demonstrates structural stability under continuous external combustion and exhibits better thermal stability compared with batteries using liquid, polymer, or composite electrolyte. At an operating temperature of 150°C, the battery remains stable, unlike lithium-ion batteries that can swell, rupture, or catch fire within minutes.
According to the research team, the combination of high thermal stability, non-combustible nature, scalability and ambient air fabrication process may facilitate the commercialisation of all-solid state batteries in next-generation miniature and wearable electronic devices.
