Research & Development World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Researchers Break Barrier Surrounding Better Solid-State Batteries

By University of Maryland | June 13, 2018

Engineers at the University of Maryland have developed a means to overcome obstacles in the development of solid-state batteries, primarily high resistance and low capacity. Dr. Eric Wachsman, Director of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute and William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research, and his group have broken these barriers through the fabrication of a uniquely microstructured solid electrolyte architecture based on a doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZ) ceramic Li-conductor. The paper describing this technique was recently published in Materials Today.

Wachsman, the lead researcher, notes, “There has been tremendous interest in solid-state batteries due to their inherent safety and potential for game changing increase in energy density by use of Li metal anodes. However, until this work the Li-cycling current densities were too low to achieve commercially viable charge and discharge rates. Now that this has been achieved the potential of solid-state batteries can finally be realized.”

Trilayer structures were produced through a low-cost, easily scalable tapecasting process. Without any gaps between grains, the dense layer is free from structural defects, blocking dendritic lithium growth that could short circuit the cell and increasing mechanical strength. The porous-dense-porous LLZ trilayer structure serves multiple functions, resulting in a low resistance, mechanically strong structure capable of high-rate lithium cycling.

Dr. Greg Hitz, CTO of Ion Storage Systems, a battery start up company out of UMD, says, “Our group’s extensive experience as electrochemists and ceramists led to the trilayer design that we believe is the ideal configuration for next-generation solid state batteries. The demonstration of high rate lithium cycling in the trilayer ceramic structure was the realization of our multi-year vision and represents a platform for lithium-sulfur, layered oxide cathodes, high voltage spinels, or other future battery chemistries.”

The technique has already surpassed DOE Fast-Charge current density goal with a large per-cycle areal capacity, which has never previously been demonstrated for lithium cycling in solid electrolytes. Future work will focus on increasing cumulative plating capacity and fraction of lithium passed per cycle to further achieve these targets. These results offer a commercially viable means of producing safe, non-combustible, lithium batteries with high specific energy and high specific density.

The work is funded through the ARPA-E Robust Affordable Next Generation Energy Storage Systems (RANGE) program and the NASA Advanced Energy Storage System Project within the Game Changing Development Program of the Space Technology Mission Directorate.

Source: University of Maryland

Related Articles Read More >

2025 R&D layoffs tracker tops 92,000
Efficiency first: Sandia’s new director balances AI drive with deterrent work
Ex-Google CEO details massive AI energy needs at House hearing, advocates for fusion and SMR R&D
Floating solar mats clean polluted water — and generate power
rd newsletter
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, trends, and strategies in Research & Development.
RD 25 Power Index

R&D World Digital Issues

Fall 2024 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R&D magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE