A Maryland-based maker of solid-state batteries, ION Storage Systems (ION), has reached a significant milestone in commercializing its solid energy storage devices. ION’s solid-state battery (SSB) cells have achieved 800 cycles without the need for compression or volume change, marking a first in the industry.
Key Achievements
Non-Compression Anodeless Design
ION is the first company to achieve 800 cycles in SSB cells using a non-compression anodeless design. Traditionally, compression has been a major impediment to the success of solid-state batteries.
Stable Cycling
“The stable cycling that we’ve repeatedly observed in our R&D cells is the culmination of key innovations by ION’s ceramic scientists and battery scientists over the past several years,” said Dr. Nicholas Hudak, Director of Cell R&D at ION. The combination of ION’s next-generation ceramic electrolyte and unique cell architecture has enabled the only known anodeless, compressionless, lithium-metal battery that can cycle with this level of stability at 25°C.
Industry Implications
Replacing Lithium-Ion Batteries
ION’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Greg Hitz, stated, “It is unprecedented for an anodeless cell to reach this kind of cycle life without compression.” Hitz added that ION has produced a cell with performance compelling enough to replace a significant portion of the lithium-ion market. The next step is to build these cells into commercial formats and multilayer cells from ION’s pilot line, ensuring high repeatability for customer use.
Future Prospects
Commercial Release
ION plans to release its first generation of SSB products to commercial customers by late 2024. The company claims that its anodeless technology provides a safer and more powerful alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries, eliminating the need for less sustainable materials like graphite through the use of a revolutionary 3-D ceramic structure.
Applications
ION’s SSB platform, capable of accommodating existing and future cathode technologies, provides simple and cost-effective manufacturing at scale. The drop-in replacement design for Li-Ion batteries is expected to accelerate the adoption of ION’s SSB in various applications, including consumer electronics, medical devices, electric vehicles, grid storage, and aerospace & defense.
Collaborations and Funding
Government and Industry Partnerships
In June, ION announced it would receive $20 million from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) as part of a three-year, $40 million partnership with several world-class commercialization partners. The company has also partnered with Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest ceramics, glass, and material suppliers, to accelerate the commercialization of ION’s high-performing, anodeless SSB.
Conclusion
ION Storage Systems is on the verge of transforming the battery industry with its breakthrough solid-state battery technology. By achieving 800 cycles in its anodeless solid-state battery cells, ION is setting a new standard for battery performance and sustainability, paving the way for a future where solid-state batteries could replace traditional lithium-ion batteries in a wide range of applications.