Heat resistant and long life
"Please do not take photos." Perhaps for fear of technology leakage, the
person in charge of Hitachi Zosen stopped the participants from taking photos of
the all-solid-state battery "AS-LiB" that the company had begun sample supply.
According to the person in charge, the battery can also work at high
temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius and "can be used in the space field." The
company will set up production facilities in Osaka City in fiscal 2019.
The practical application of all-solid-state batteries is expected to begin
in the field of electronic devices and sensors that are lighter than pure
electric vehicles. FDK demonstrated a small box similar to a semiconductor chip
and plans to launch it as early as 2020.
The principle of all-solid-state batteries is basically the same as that of
the mainstream "lithium-ion batteries" on the market. Lithium ions travel
between the positive and negative electrodes inside the battery to charge and
discharge.
The biggest difference between the two is whether the electrolyte between
the electrodes is liquid or solid. The liquid electrolyte in lithium-ion
batteries is flammable and may catch fire if damaged. There is no need to worry
about leakage of the solid electrolyte in all-solid-state batteries. In
addition, if a solid electrolyte is used, lithium ions move faster and the
charging time can be shortened.
As a power source, high-performance lithium ions have an energy output of
200-250 kWh per kilogram, while all-solid-state batteries are about twice that,
reaching 500 kWh. The ions of lithium-ion batteries will dissolve into the
electrolyte, and the output power will decrease after repeated charging and
discharging. However, the ions of all-solid-state batteries will not dissolve
when traveling, so their lifespan is longer than that of lithium-ion
batteries.
Statistics from the International Energy Agency (IEA) show that almost all
of the more than 1 million pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles
(PHEV) sold worldwide in 2017 used lithium-ion batteries. All-solid-state
batteries will gradually expand their applications starting in the mid-2020s.
According to Fuji Economic forecasts, the market size will reach approximately
2.8 trillion yen by 2035, a surge from 330 billion yen in 2030.
The backdrop is a research and development boom among car manufacturers.
Toyota Motor and Panasonic will establish a new vehicle battery company as early
as 2020. The two parties will share relevant experience and technology in
large-capacity lithium-ion batteries and all-solid-state batteries.
Expectations for all-solid-state batteries are not limited to Earth.
Japan's Special Ceramics will provide self-developed all-solid-state batteries
to the space exploration start-up ispace, which it plans to transport to the
lunar surface via a probe launched by the company around 2021.
Competition boom in component R&D
On the other hand, under the surface of the "all-solid boom", component
manufacturers engaged in basic component business such as electrolytes, cathode
materials, anode materials, etc. are also launching R&D competition.
In terms of solid electrolytes, Mitsui Metals plans to develop electrolytes
using sulfur, lithium, phosphorus, etc. as raw materials. Individual sintering
methods will be developed separately. It is reported that the mass production
performance is excellent, and we strive to put it into practical use around
2025. JX Metal has also joined forces with TOHO TITANIUM to develop
electrolytes. In the petroleum industry, Idemitsu Kosan and automobile
manufacturers have carried out research and development and obtained patents,
striving to realize practical use in the 2020s.
Cathode materials are components used to release lithium ions that roam
within the battery. Rare metals such as cobalt are often used. Some Japanese
companies have outstanding achievements in cathode materials for lithium-ion
batteries.
Sumitomo Metal Mining will also use traditional cathode materials in
all-solid-state batteries. Sumitomo Chemical is developing nickel-manganese
cathode materials that do not use rare metals.
The negative electrode material is a member that retains the lithium ions
that have moved inside the battery and forms a "charged state". The performance
of negative electrode materials is greatly related to battery capacity. In terms
of negative electrode materials, GS YUASA uses metallic silicon and develops
products with an energy density that is approximately three times that of
previous products.
There are also other companies that, like Mitsui Metals, are committed to
one-stop research and development from solid electrolytes to cathode materials
and anode materials.
Some people believe that Japanese companies have led the world in the field
of all-solid-state batteries. Japan's New Energy Industrial Technology
Development Organization (NEDO) plays a standard-bearing role and forms a
research and development framework including Toyota, Panasonic, Asahi Kasei and
Toray.
The future issues are how to reduce production costs and establish a mass
production system. Some types of solid electrolytes require the use of equipment
that sinters the powdered material together. Achieving mass production requires
large-scale sintering equipment, which requires more investment than the
electrolyte of lithium-ion batteries that requires reacting various chemical
substances in organic solvents.
There are also new trends such as the competition to develop lightweight,
large-capacity new batteries called "air batteries." Against this background,
the trend of accelerating the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries is
likely to expand.
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