author: Bart Swiatek
Samsung is Working on a Cutting-edge Battery
Samsung is conducting research on a new type of battery with solid electrolyte (so-called all-solid-state). The battery is to achieve an energy density of 900 Wh/L. In the case of electric cars, this would enable to increase their range up to 800 kilometres.
IN A NUTSHELL:
- Samsung is developing a new battery, based on a silver and carbon compound;
- The battery is to be more efficient, more durable and safer than current solutions.
Nature Energy reports that Samsung is working on a new type of all-solid-state battery (with solid electrolyte). Instead of lithium - now commonly used in similar power cells - the technology will use silver and carbon compounds. This will allow for much higher capacity (energy density up to 900 Wh/L), as well as extended life and improved safety (which is of great importance - just to mention the problems with self-combusting / exploding Note 7s).
Interestingly, despite the above mentioned advantages, the prototype of the new type of battery is half the size of current batteries. This will open the way for even more components and sensors to be installed in the devices. Alternatively, the engineers will be able to rely on cells with size comparable to the current ones, but with a much higher capacity. In addition to mobile devices, the technology can also be used in the automotive industry, significantly increasing the range of electric cars (up to 800 km on a single charge, with a service life of a thousand cycles).
“The product of this study could be a seed technology for safer, high-performance batteries of the future. Going forward, we will continue to develop and refine all-solid-state battery materials and manufacturing technologies to help take EV battery innovation to the next level," said Dongmin Im, head of the laboratory responsible for the project.