The popularity of developing battery technologies can be largely attributed to their significance within many other technology sectors, such as energy storage. IDTechEx's report, “Solid-State and Polymer Batteries 2025-2035: Technology, Forecasts, Players“, draws attention to the fields benefitting from battery technologies, alongside the key drivers for their development, changes over the past decade and players operating within the industry.
Solid-state batteries for advanced energy storage
Solid-state batteries are emerging as a promising solution for advanced energy storage, offering a unique balance of performance characteristics that make them suitable for a wide range of applications. Battery performance is typically evaluated based on factors such as energy density, safety, cost, power density, cycle life, charging speed, and low-temperature operation. However, achieving an ideal balance among these attributes often involves trade-offs, meaning that the optimal battery design is highly dependent on the specific requirements of the intended application. For instance, electric vehicle batteries may prioritize energy density and cycle life, while grid-scale storage systems may emphasize cost and durability. Once these application-specific needs are identified, strategies for pack integration and system design compatibility can be developed to ensure effective deployment.
While solid-state batteries hold great promise for transforming energy storage technologies, their widespread adoption will depend on overcoming challenges such as scalability, cost reduction, and addressing interfacial issues between the solid electrolyte and electrodes. Nevertheless, their unique combination of attributes positions them as a compelling alternative to traditional battery technologies across a variety of sectors.
The main advantages of solid-state electrolyte
Solid-state electrolytes are at the forefront of next-generation battery technologies due to their ability to address many of the limitations associated with conventional liquid electrolytes. One of the most significant advantages is their contribution to improved safety. Unlike liquid electrolytes, which are flammable and prone to leakage, solid-state electrolytes are inherently non-flammable. This eliminates the risk of thermal runaway, a dangerous phenomenon that can lead to fires or explosions in lithium-ion batteries. The absence of volatile components enhances thermal stability, making solid-state batteries safer for use in applications such as electric vehicles (EVs) and consumer electronics.
Another key advantage lies in their potential for higher energy density. Solid-state batteries can incorporate a lithium metal anode, which has a much higher theoretical capacity compared to graphite anodes used in traditional lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, solid electrolytes enable the use of high-voltage cathodes, further boosting energy density. This combination allows solid-state batteries to store more energy per unit weight or volume, paving the way for longer-range EVs and more compact energy storage systems.
Durability is another hallmark of solid-state electrolytes. These materials exhibit excellent mechanical strength and can operate across a wider range of temperatures compared to liquid electrolytes. This resilience makes them suitable for harsh environments and applications requiring consistent performance under extreme conditions.
Comparing the three main solid-state systems
The incumbent solid-state systems close to commercialization include polymers, oxides, and sulfites, each coming with its own characteristics and varying capabilities.
Polymers are known to be easy and cheap to process and can easily be integrated into existing manufacturing processes, making them a favorable switch with limited barriers, along with their interfacial compatibility. Polymers do, however, still bring the risk of flammability and may have limited room for energy density improvements. In many cases, the batteries also need to be operated at elevated temperatures.
Oxide-based solid-state electrolytes are widely regarded as a safer choice for solid-state batteries due to their non-flammable nature and excellent chemical stability. These materials also exhibit high mechanical strength, which enhances their ability to suppress lithium dendrite growth—a common issue in liquid electrolyte systems. Furthermore, oxides boast reliable electrochemical properties, making them suitable for applications requiring long-term stability. However, despite these advantages, scalability remains a significant challenge for oxide-based systems. Their brittleness can lead to mechanical failure during manufacturing or operation, particularly in applications where flexibility or high mechanical resilience is required. This limitation has slowed their adoption in large-scale battery production and applications demanding robust mechanical performance.
On the other hand, sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes offer distinct advantages that make them attractive for certain applications. They exhibit exceptionally high ionic conductivity at room temperature, comparable to liquid electrolytes, which facilitates efficient ion transport and improves battery performance. Sulfides also possess good deformability, enabling better interfacial contact between the electrolyte and electrodes without requiring high-temperature sintering during fabrication. This characteristic makes sulfides more scalable for manufacturing processes compared to oxides.
Additionally, the moldability of sulfide-based electrolytes allows for compact designs that are ideal for large-scale applications such as electric vehicles or grid energy storage systems. However, sulfide electrolytes face challenges related to environmental stability. When exposed to moisture or air, they can degrade and release toxic byproducts like hydrogen sulfide gas. This poses safety risks and complicates efforts to align sulfide-based batteries with growing sustainability demands. Addressing these issues will be critical for their widespread adoption.
With many overlapping and mismatched qualities, the key takeaway from IDTechEx's solid-state electrolyte analysis is that there is no one-size-fits-all material, with each option further highlighting the need for case-by-case examination.
For more information on solid-state battery chemistries and their preferred applications, market potential, player activities, see IDTechEx's report, “Solid-State and Polymer Batteries 2025-2035: Technology, Forecasts, Players“. Downloadable sample pages are available for this report.
For the full portfolio of energy storage and batteries market research available from IDTechEx, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/Energy.