Three battery technologies that can power the future

Let’s start with the basics of battery technology. A battery pack consists of one or more cells, each containing a positive electrode (cathode), a negative electrode (anode), a separator, and an electrolyte. By using different chemical compositions and materials, manufacturers can influence battery characteristics such as energy capacity, power output, lifespan, and the number of charge and discharge cycles.

Battery manufacturers continuously experiment with new chemistries to develop solutions that are more affordable, lighter, more powerful, and capable of storing more energy.

New generation lithium-ion batteries

In lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, energy is stored and released through the movement of lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes via the electrolyte. In this system, the cathode acts as the lithium source, while the anode functions as the host material for the lithium ions.

The term “Li-ion” is often used as a collective name for several lithium-based battery chemistries.

Lithium metal oxides and lithium phosphates are commonly used as cathode materials. Graphite remains the most widely used anode material, although combinations of graphite and silicon or lithium titanate are also increasingly applied.

With current materials and battery designs, conventional Li-ion technology is expected to approach its performance limits in the coming years.

Nevertheless, recent innovations may significantly extend these boundaries. New advanced compounds are capable of storing larger amounts of lithium in both the positive and negative electrodes, enabling higher energy density and greater power output. These developments also aim to reduce dependence on scarce critical raw materials.

What are the advantages?

Today, among all advanced storage technologies, Li-ion battery technology enables the highest level of energy density. Performance such as fast charging or temperature range (-50°C to 125°C) can be refined through the wide range of designs and different types of chemicals. In addition, Li-ion batteries have additional advantages, such as a very low self-discharge and a very long lifespan and a high number of charge and discharge cycles.

When can we expect it?

Among today’s advanced energy storage technologies, Li-ion batteries still offer one of the highest energy densities available.

Performance characteristics such as fast charging capability and wide operating temperature ranges (-50 °C to +125 °C) can be optimized through different cell designs and chemical compositions.

Additional advantages include:

• Very low self-discharge
• Long lifespan
• High number of charge and discharge cycles

When can we expect these developments?

A new generation of advanced Li-ion batteries is expected to enter the market before large-scale adoption of solid-state batteries begins. These next-generation batteries are particularly suitable for applications such as:

• Renewable energy storage systems
• Rail transport
• Maritime applications
• Aviation
• Off-road and industrial mobility

Especially in sectors where high energy density, power output, and safety are essential.

Lithium-sulphur batteries (Li-S)

Traditional Li-ion batteries store lithium ions inside stable host materials during charging and discharging. Lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries work differently.

During discharge, the lithium anode is consumed while sulphur is converted into various chemical compounds. During charging, this process reverses.

What are the advantages?

Lithium-sulphur batteries use extremely lightweight active materials:

• Sulphur as the cathode material
• Metallic lithium as the anode material

This results in an exceptionally high theoretical energy density — potentially up to four times higher than conventional Li-ion batteries.

As a result, Li-S technology is considered highly promising for aviation and aerospace applications.

Saft Batteries, among others, is focusing on solid-state electrolyte solutions for lithium-sulphur technology. This helps address many traditional limitations of liquid-electrolyte Li-S batteries, such as:

• Limited lifespan
• High self-discharge
• Fire risk

In addition, lithium-sulphur technology may complement solid-state Li-ion batteries due to its extremely favourable gravimetric energy density (+30% Wh/kg).

When can we expect lithium-sulphur batteries?

Several important technological challenges have already been overcome, and development is progressing rapidly toward full-scale prototypes.

For applications requiring very high energy density and long battery life, lithium-sulphur technology is expected to become commercially available shortly after the first generation of solid-state Li-ion batteries.

Solid-state batteries

Solid-state batteries are often considered a major breakthrough in battery technology. In conventional Li-ion batteries, lithium ions move through a liquid electrolyte. In solid-state batteries, this liquid electrolyte is replaced by a solid material that still enables ion transport.

Although the concept itself is not new, major progress has been made over the past decade thanks to the discovery of new solid electrolytes with ion conductivity approaching that of liquid electrolytes.

Current research and development efforts focus mainly on two categories of solid electrolyte materials:

• Polymers
• Inorganic compounds

These materials are selected based on properties such as conductivity, stability, and manufacturability.

What are the advantages?

One of the biggest advantages of solid-state batteries is improved safety. Unlike liquid electrolytes, solid electrolytes are non-flammable, significantly reducing fire risks.

Additional benefits include:

• Higher energy density
• Lightweight battery designs
• Longer shelf life
• Lower self-discharge
• Simplified thermal and safety management

Due to their favourable Wh/kg ratio, solid-state batteries are considered highly suitable for electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions.

When can we expect solid-state batteries?

As technology continues to evolve, different types of solid-state batteries are expected to enter the market gradually.

The first generation will likely use graphite-based anodes and offer significantly improved safety and energy performance. Later generations are expected to adopt metallic lithium anodes, resulting in even lighter batteries with higher energy density.

Original story from Saft Batteries: Three battery technologies that could power the future!