In recent years, as the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy continues to grow, there has been growing interest in more efficient and safer energy storage technologies.
In this context, the “all-individual battery (Solid-State Battery)” is attracting significant attention as a next-generation battery.
Solid-state batteries have the potential to replace conventional lithium-ion batteries and are expected to be used in a variety of fields.
What is an all-individual battery?
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, all-individual batteries use a “solid” electrolyte inside.
Whereas in a conventional lithium-ion battery, lithium ions move through a liquid electrolyte, in an all-individual battery its electrolyte is solid, allowing current to flow without depending on the liquid electrolyte. This creates several important advantages.
1．Improved safety
One of the greatest advantages of all-individual batteries is improved safety.
Conventional lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte, which can ignite or explode if overcharged, overdischarged, or subjected to external shock. In contrast, all-individual batteries use a solid electrolyte, which greatly reduces the risk of ignition or expansion.
Solid electrolytes are also resistant to extreme temperature changes, providing greater safety.
2．High energy density
All-individual batteries are expected to have a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries.
This is because the solid electrolyte supports more efficient lithium ion transfer, allowing for a smaller battery with the same capacity.
High energy density could significantly extend battery life in devices such as electric vehicles and smartphones.
3．Long service life
Solid electrolytes are chemically more stable than liquid electrolytes and can withstand extended periods of use.
As a result, all-individual batteries are expected to have a longer service life than lithium-ion batteries.
This is expected to reduce the frequency of battery replacement and lower total costs in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
4．High temperature resistance
Solid electrolytes are more resistant to high temperature environments than liquid electrolytes.
This allows all-individual batteries to avoid performance degradation at extreme temperatures and to operate stably even in hot and humid regions or in harsh environments.
This makes them suitable for use in a variety of industrial applications and under harsh conditions.
Scope of Application and Future of All-Individual Batteries
Once commercialized, all-individual batteries will have a very wide range of applications.
In particular, they are expected to be used as batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The high energy density and long life of all-individual batteries have the potential to significantly increase the cruising range of EVs.
In addition, they are also expected to be used in diverse fields, such as home appliances, drones, aircraft, and storage batteries for renewable energy.
Furthermore, if the evolution of all-individual batteries improves the efficiency of energy storage technologies in general, they will play a major role in the spread of renewable energy.
The ability to efficiently store unstable energy sources such as wind and solar power and release them when needed will accelerate the realization of a cleaner, more sustainable energy society.
All-phase batteries have the potential to be the next generation of batteries with many advantages such as their superior safety, high energy density, long life, and high temperature resistance.
Technical hurdles to commercialization, such as production costs, performance at low temperatures, and the physical properties of solid electrolytes, still exist.
Nevertheless, the widespread use of all-individual batteries could have a revolutionary impact on the fields of electric vehicles and renewable energy, and future developments that will have a significant impact on our lives should be watched with particular attention.