Introduction
Batteries are essential for most of the modern technological applications where the demand for energy is soaring in the forms of electronic devices.
When discussing the battery types, solid-state batteries are gaining its momentum due to the rapid innovation in technology and energy storage systems. This type of battery is becoming an important component for a certain level of adoption in electric cars and renewable energy systems thanks to its advancement in terms of energy density, safety and prolonged lifetime.
This article provides a complete comparison of these battery technologies for various practical energy requirements of your choice. So let’s start the discussion;
What Are Solid State Batteries, And Lithium Ion Batteries?
Solid State Batteries
Solid-state batteries are advanced and different types of batteries compared to other batteries. Solid state batteries use solid lithium electrolyte unlike existing lithium ion batteries which use liquid form. The composition of solid-state batteries is made of materials like lithium metal, ceramic electrolytes, and sulfides. To put simply, solid-state batteries have these advanced materials that help in transferring charged ions in a safer way. Not having liquid reduces the chances of a thermal runaway and leakage during the operation or charging. The major advantage of the solid medium is that it is safer than a liquid one.
Moreover, the critical factor that differentiates solid-state batteries from Li-ion batteries is how they operate. Although solid-state batteries use lithium ions for energy transfer like their Li-ion counterpart, solid-state batteries use a stable and non-flammable electrolyte. This makes solid-state batteries a reliable source of energy for anyone who requires robust performance-oriented batteries, like electric vehicles or aerospace technology.
This battery technology has caused a surge in interest amongst people about the solid-state battery and triggered questions like “Does solid state battery use lithium?” or “What is a solid-state battery’s composition?”.
Composition of Solid-State, And Lithium-Ion
| Battery Type | Anode | Cathode | Electrolyte | Additional Features |
| Solid-State Battery | Lithium Metal | Various (e.g., Nickel, Cobalt) | Solid Electrolyte (e.g., Glass, Ceramic) | High energy density, enhanced safety |
| Lithium-Ion Battery | Graphite | Lithium-Based (e.g., Lithium Cobalt Oxide) | Liquid Electrolyte (Organic Solvent) | Versatile, widely used in electronics and EVs |
Lithium Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are becoming the new standard in the field of portable electronics, electric vehicles, and for storage of electricity in the grid. These batteries possess a substantial energy density and can be recharged. Lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte to assist the movement between the anode or cathode of the electrode. The specific chemicals during the charge and discharge cycles usually provide an adequate energy output in a consistent manner.
Even though lithium-ion batteries improve productivity, and consistency in energy output, they are being dependent on one of the flammable lithium-ion battery types. Which means, they are not protected from overheating and fire under uncontrolled conditions. This drawback makes lithium-ion batteries have limited use in some applications due to its safety issues. However, because of its affordability, and good performance, lithium batteries are the preferred one among the other solutions. The density factor also makes them feasible as an energy storage techniques and solutions.
How Do These Batteries Work?
Solid State Batteries
Solid-state batteries rely on ion movement through a solid electrolyte, unlike conventional ones. The solid medium, in addition to serving as a path for the movement of ions, also acts as the separator that isolates the battery’s anode and cathode.
During charging, lithium ions shift from the cathode to the anode. During the cycle of discharging, lithium ions move in the opposite direction to release energy. Due to the absence of liquid electrolytes, the risks of leakage and thermal runaway are minimal in solid-state batteries, which are inherently safer and longer-lasting. These benefits such as a longer lifespan and enhanced safety make solid-state batteries ideal solutions for high-demand applications like electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
Solid-state batteries provide higher energy density, a key advantage of this technology. To understand the advantages of solid state batteries you need to understand “how solid-state batteries work”. Thanks to its compact nature of solid electrolyte caused by higher energy density, it makes the battery to store more energy in a smaller and lighter design.
Lithium Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries operate by exchanging lithium ions from the anode and cathode through gel or liquid electrolyte. The lithium-ion battery charging process means the lithium ions leave the cathode and move towards the anode in order to be stored in it. When you discharge the lithium-ion battery, the lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode, while electrical energy is generated simultaneously.
These charging and discharging cycles usually define the state of charge in Li-Ion. This Li-Ion state of charge eventually dictates the amount of energy the battery can give out at a particular time.
The design inside lithium ion batteries is made up of materials like graphite in the anode, lithium cobalt oxide or a similar type of compound in the cathode. These complex materials have an optimized purpose of giving the maximum possible energy to the batteries. Even though this design is highly effective, there are chances that the lithium ion batteries are susceptible to fire and overheat because of use of liquid electrolytes.
Key Differences Between Solid State VS Lithium Ion batteries
Energy Density
One of the significant differences between solid-state, and lithium-ion batteries is their energy density. While the energy density of lithium-ion battery systems is stable and already very high; it represents a great combination of high capacity and relatively compact size. It makes it perfect for use in portable applications including smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. On the other hand, solid-state batteries offer even greater energy storage potential. They use solid electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes to increase energy density. It allows denser packing of active materials with a higher energy density which makes them efficient solutions in energy demanding applications.
Key Performance Indicators of Solid-State Vs Lithium-Ion
| Feature | Solid State Battery | Lithium-Ion Battery |
| Energy Density | 500-900 Wh/L | 250-693 Wh/L |
| Specific Energy | 400-500 Wh/kg | 100-265 Wh/kg |
| Cycle Life | 5000 plus cycles
|
500-5500 cycles |
| Charging Time | 10-20 minutes | 1-4 hours |
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to 60°C | 0°C to 45°C |
| Self-discharge Rate | 2-3% per year | 2-10% per month |
| Cost (2024) | $800-1000/kWh
|
$130-180/kWh |
| Lifetime | 10-15 years | 5-10 years |
Safety
Safety is an important key factor in all types of batteries. The solid-state battery is by far the safest among all types of batteries. The exclusion of flammable liquid electrolytes makes solid-state battery more resistant to overheating and also eliminates risks such as combustion, leakage, and subsequent fire or explosions.
In contrast, the liquid nature in electrolyte is the reason why lithium-ion batteries have potential of fire hazards. They become even bigger risks due to thermal runaway, causing the lithium inside to start a reaction that creates more heat than the system can dissipate.
Even though a solid-state battery is considered the safest solution, it has disadvantages due to its conventional technologies. These include the use of brittle materials and the slow transformation of ions or difficult transformation of ions. These drawbacks must be improved before solid-state batteries are in widespread use.
Lifespan and Recharge Cycles
The lifespan and recharge cycles of a battery are important factors for long-term performance. Solid-state batteries can last for thousands of recharge cycles with minimal degradation. Lithium-ion cells, on the other hand, degrade slowly and offer less fatigue. Although lithium-ion cells offer a large number of recharge cycles, the capacity of these cells slowly starts to decrease after a few hundred to a thousand cycles depending on the quality of the cells, and how the cells were used.
Differences in cost:
The solid-state battery price is much more expensive as compared to lithium-ion cells. These batteries are made from advanced materials and have a complex manufacturing process. In contrast, the lithium-ion batteries are quite cheaper and are easily available on the market. The features of the lithium-ion batteries– the low cost and availability– made it quite accessible for the mass market. These batteries are widely used in consumer electronics all over the world. So, for long-term and for high-power applications, lithium batteries are usually a more cost-effective solution.
Applications and Suitability
The specific use cases for each battery type vary widely. Solid-state batteries applications are in high-performance requirements sectors, such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems. Where the extreme safety and energy density needed, these solid state battery cells become very useful. Thus solid-state batteries have the highest potential to shape the future in the renewable industry such as the solid-state solar battery.
On the other hand, Lithium-ion batteries are used for consumer electronics, and electric vehicles because of their high power and high energy density natures.
Showdown of batteries: Solid state batteries vs Lithium Ion:
In this section we will look at the batteries with respect to characteristics, use cases, and pros and cons of these three different battery types in a nutshell for better understanding.
Practical Features of Solid-State and Lithium-Ion
| Characteristic | Solid State Batteries | Lithium Ion Batteries |
| Energy Density | Highest density due to solid electrolytes allowing denser component packing | High density, suitable for portable electronics and EVs |
| Safety Features | • Most safe due to no liquid electrolytes
• Highly resistant to overheating • Minimal risk of leakage or combustion • Challenges with brittle materials |
• Moderate safety risks
• Potential for thermal runaway • Fire hazard under stress conditions • Contains liquid electrolytes |
| Lifespan & Recharge Cycles | • Several thousand recharge cycles
• Minimal degradation over time • Longest overall lifespan |
• Hundreds to thousand cycles
• Gradual capacity reduction • Moderate lifespan |
| Cost & Affordability | • Highest cost
• Complex manufacturing • Advanced materials required • Currently cost-prohibitive for many applications |
• Moderate cost
• Mass market accessible • Cost-effective for rechargeable applications |
| Primary Applications | • High-performance EVs
• Renewable energy systems • Advanced portable electronics • Solar battery systems |
• Consumer electronics
• Current EVs • Laptops • Smartphones |
| Key Advantages | • Highest energy density
• Superior safety • Longest lifespan • Future-forward technology |
• Proven technology
• Good balance of features • Wide availability • Established infrastructure |
| Key Disadvantages | • Very high cost
• Limited availability • Slower ion transfer rates • Manufacturing complexity |
• Safety concerns
• Degradation over time • Temperature sensitivity • Limited energy density vs solid state |
Future Trends and Innovations
There have been a number of substantial innovations in the last few years, shaping the new age of the battery field. The hot trend has been the research on solid-state batteries to replace liquid electrolytes. Solid-state batteries are likely to become the fundamentals of next-generation energy storage, primarily due to their higher energy density and safety.
In recent years, researchers have shown alot of interest in solid-state batteries. However, the reason why research into solid-state batteries is difficult is because of the materials that act as solid electrolytes. Most research on solid-state batteries tries to simplify the manufacturing process to achieve economies of scale and affordable.
On these many researches, scientists try to address the question, “Does a solid-state battery use lithium?” The answer is somewhat yes, and solid-state batteries have to use lithium electrolytes like other traditional lithium batteries due to their compact sizes and higher energy density.
In recent years, there are a lot of debates on solid state batteries vs lithium ion. Lithium-ion batteries are the current technology that dominates the market for batteries.The primary usage of Lithium-ion batteries has been extended to large scale for applications like solar storage. However, with the newer development in technology, the future of battery storage seems to be leaning towards solid-state batteries’ solutions. As solid-state battery alternatives reach its maturity level, it is highly possible that these two technologies complement each other in an optimal way.
The competition for increasing battery efficiency, cost, and sustainability ensures that technologies around solid-state batteries vs lithium ion will remain relevant for various fields. However, as Solid-State batteries tend to grow over the next decade. It is clear that better and cheaper sources have to be used for energy derived from renewable sources.
Conclusion
Solid state batteries vs lithium ion comparison points out the strengths and weaknesses of these technologies. Solid-state batteries are becoming a great replacement in high-performance applications – being safe and having high energy density. They are going to be suitable for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage because of their advanced safety and the highest energy density. They are known to provide better energy efficiency, especially in energy-storage solutions in the near future.
It is important to select the right battery for the right application to get better performance, cost, and safety. With the evolving technology, understanding solid state batteries vs. lithium ion can help you choose the best option available in the market.
HBOWA has focused on lithium LiFePO4 batteries manufacturing and providing all-in-one energy storage solutions for our customers for many years, if you have more concerns about this issue, feel free to reach out, our technical team is always here to support you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solid State Batteries vs Lithium Ion
Which is better: solid state or lithium ion batteries?
Solid state batteries vs Lithium-ion batteries is a tricky question. It depends upon the application you plan to use them for. For some applications you may find that solid state batteries are a safer option. In cases of performance, a solid state battery has higher energy density and faster charging. So if you’re looking to use them for performance reasons, then a solid state battery is the way to go. However, if you’re looking to use them on a more regular basis, then a lithium ion battery is perfect for you. They are also cheaper and thus make for an affordable option.
How much do solid state batteries cost compared to lithium ion?
In present scenario, solid-state batteries costs a lot more than lithium-ion batteries due to their complicated manufacturing process. Since this is a new technology, prices are high for solid-state. But, with the maturity of technology and increment in quantity, the prices are expected to decrease regularly to utilize them instead of lithium-ion.
When will solid state batteries be commercially available?
Solid-state battery technology is still in the developing stage. But many companies are getting closer to making the breakthrough to bring those batteries commercially available. It’s expected that solid-state batteries will be available within the next 5-10 years, with various applications in electric vehicles, domestic consumer electronics and energy-storage systems.
Can solid state batteries replace lithium ion batteries?
Solid-state batteries can be the alternative to lithium-ion batteries in the future. Solid-state batteries are practicable in different applications because of their safety and energy density. But, lithium-ion batteries are less expensive in the manufacturing process, and for this reason, both lithium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries will exist in the same market.
