Explore investigation of solid state batteries

Solid state batteries, as the research and development direction of the next generation of batteries, its research and development progress has been paid close attention. Recently, many foreign car companies announced the production schedule of solid-state batteries. Seeo claims to be the closest to mass production. Many listed companies in China have also made announcements, investor interaction platforms, media, and institutional research to explicitly indicate that companies are conducting technology reserves for solid-state batteries, and some companies have announced research and development progress.

So, do they really have research and development results? Who is the first Chinese, Japanese, European and American producer? What is the impact on the current world pattern of batteries?

Foreign car companies to the left, domestic car companies wait and see

A growing number of high-end automakers have recently unveiled plans to develop solid-state batteries, such as Audi, Bosch, Toyota and BMW. Dyson, the world's most famous vacuum cleaner, has recently unveiled a new car manufacturing schedule. It is hoped that the high-end custom-made models that add solid-state batteries will grab a certain market share in the hands of old car companies. Although it is very risky, it is very suitable for James Dyson's people who like black technology and like adventure.

In May this year, the Ministry of Economy of Japan announced that it will invest 1.6 billion yen in the joint development of Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Panasonic, GS Yuasa, Toray, Xuhuacheng, Mitsui Chemical, Mitsubishi Chemical and other large auto manufacturers, batteries and materials manufacturers. Solid state batteries. It is hoped that by 2030, it will achieve the target of 800 kilometers of endurance. This is definitely a long-term experience in Japan's history.

What about the Chinese car companies? Mr Wanghongmei, chief engineer at Zhidou, said the company was very willing to cooperate with forward-looking technology and was closely watching the world's cutting-edge technologies. Several other car companies also recognise solid-state batteries as the industry's trend and are following its progress.

When asked if they would spend as much money on research and development as foreign car companies, car leaders generally said they would not. A car owner is even more outspoken, saying that the company's current market competition has been exhausted. Companies can not spend a lot of money on R&D for the benefit of shareholders. After all, R&D costs are likely to drag a company down. Of course, if there is a battery factory R&D and mass production, all kinds of certifications are available. After passing the technical verification of the car company for at least one year, it can be considered. Of course, this also depends on the situation of the international factory. After all, everyone does not want to be the "first person to eat crabs."

Car companies do not want to develop, so the attitude of domestic battery plants? According to public information, at least some battery plants and automobile assembly plants have announced through various channels that they are conducting research and development of solid-state batteries. On the surface, everyone is still very active. Before writing, the reporter contacted Cheng Fei to inquire about the development of solid-state batteries. The company refused to disclose it on the grounds of commercial secrets.

One industry insider said he visited a number of companies that claimed to be developing solid-state batteries. Apart from the fact that one or two companies, such as Gan Feng Li, have made progress, most companies are still in the "oral development" stage. Baoan of China has issued a notice to develop a new type of graphene material, which has several fluctuations. As a result, the material is "industrial" and can not be used for power batteries.

Solid state battery production technology is very difficult

The main reason for the attention of solid-state batteries is that the same amount of electricity will make solid-state batteries smaller. Since solid-state batteries do not have electrolytes, storage becomes easier, especially when used on large equipment such as automobiles, there is no need to add additional cooling tubes, electronic controls, etc., which can save costs while also reducing their own weight. Under the requirement of fast charging, the higher the charge and discharge voltage and the higher the temperature, the faster the lithium battery capacity decreases, and the faster the battery life decays. Control of dendritic technology, based on solid-state electrolytes, can solve the problem of lifetime decay to a large extent. Even if the bullet breaks through at minus 20 degrees, the solid-state battery can still work properly.

In addition, solid-state batteries can easily achieve 1000km of endurance, greatly reducing consumers 'anxiety to find charging piles. After all, many people run 1000km in half a month, and half a month's charging is not high. Because solid batteries do not have flammable electrolytes and do not produce whiskers when charged quickly, they can effectively avoid short circuits and spontaneous combustion.

At present, solid-state batteries have two research and development directions. One is the solid-state of lithium-ion batteries. There are mature solutions in other industries in this direction, but grafting lithium batteries requires secondary development. At present, there are very few companies that mass-produce solid electrolytes abroad, and there is no one in China, which to some extent restricts the development progress of solid state batteries. Japanese laboratories have successfully developed a gel-like battery, commonly known as a "semi-solid" battery. According to the above industry insiders, in fact, the all-solid battery domestic universities and research institutes of this technology route have already had samples, but most of them stay at the level of energy ratio, only a few hundred cycles, plus high costs, and the yield is very low. Mass production.

Another direction for technology development is metal solid-state batteries, the most common being lithium sulfur batteries. When the electrolyte is replaced with a solid, the lithium battery system is transformed from a solid interface between the solid liquid boundary of the electrode material-electrolyte and the solid electrolyte. There is no wetting between solids, and its interface is easier to form a higher contact resistance, and the battery's recyclability will deteriorate and the charging will not be fast. "The environment for the production of lithium sulfur batteries is vacuum, and once it is mixed with oxygen, it will explode. This is a great challenge for equipment companies. Mr Wusongyan, chairman of Yixin, said research and development was expected to take three to five years. Some technicians also said that lithium sulfur batteries are simply not suitable for power batteries. If they are successfully applied in the 3C and wearable fields, follow-up can be considered for use in new energy vehicles.

When can solid state batteries be mass-produced? Who's going to mass produce first? There is no definitive conclusion in the industry, but Japan has been in the forefront of the development of chemical and lithium batteries, and with Japan's conservative and low-key style, the industry speculates that Japanese companies may have been leading the world in R&D.

In recent years, with the rise of lithium battery companies in China, the market share of Japanese companies has dropped significantly, but the argument that solid-state battery attacks are clearly not professional enough. With China's lithium-ion battery technology still catching up, with overcapacity at the low end and under-capacity at the high end, Japan might as well opt for a hydrogen-fuelled car if it is to hit back, after all, because it has been ahead of China for years.

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