KATHMANDU: Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new solid-state lithium-metal battery with very high energy density. The battery can deliver 451.5 Wh/kg and supports ultra-fast charging. It can charge and discharge in about three minutes (20C rate), according to Chinese media.
The research was carried out by the Institute of Metal Research and published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
The battery uses a polymer electrolyte made from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). This material is already known for good stability and performance. However, older designs had problems with instability at the electrode level.
To fix this, researchers used a new method called “compatibilizing-solvent plasticization.” In simple terms, a temporary solvent helps mix materials better during production and then disappears. This leaves a more stable structure and reduces unwanted reactions inside the battery.
The battery completed 700 charge cycles and still kept 81.9% of its capacity. This was tested under very fast charging conditions using a 4.7V high-nickel cathode.
Researchers also built a pouch cell version using a thin lithium-metal anode. It achieved the same 451.5 Wh/kg energy density. This is much higher than current LFP batteries, which are around 200 Wh/kg.
The battery passed a nail penetration test, which shows it has good safety performance even under stress.
This development is part of the global push towards 500 Wh/kg batteries. Companies like Ganfeng Lithium, CATL, Sunwoda, and Farasis Energy are also working on similar technologies. Most are aiming for commercial use between 2026 and 2027.
For now, LFP batteries still dominate China’s EV market. CATL and BYD remain the top players, while other companies are also growing quickly.
Solid-state batteries look promising for future EVs, but it may take time before they are widely used in the market.
