Recently, a research team has achieved significant progress in the field of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries, successfully overcoming a longstanding bottleneck technology that has constrained the industry for years. This breakthrough enables dual enhancements in both battery energy density and safety performance.

Driven by this new advancement, the range of a 100-kilogram battery has increased from 500 kilometres to over 1,000 kilometres, marking a substantial leap forward for China in solid-state battery technology.

This represents not only a milestone breakthrough for new energy vehicles but also signals a systemic upgrade for the energy storage industry.

I. From Liquid to Solid: A Transformative Leap in Energy Storage Technology

Traditional lithium batteries utilise liquid electrolytes. While the manufacturing process is mature, it carries inherent risks including flammability, high thermal runaway potential, and limited energy density. The rapid expansion of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics and wind power has imposed heightened demands on energy storage systems:

Longer lifecycles;

Greater energy density;

Enhanced environmental adaptability and safety.

Solid-state batteries eliminate safety hazards such as leakage, combustion, and swelling by replacing liquid electrolytes with solid-state equivalents. Regarded as the ‘core of next-generation energy systems,’ they promise to usher in an era where energy storage achieves both safety and high energy density.

However, solid-state batteries have long faced challenges in material compatibility and interface stability.

Solid electrolytes resemble ‘ceramic plates’, while metallic lithium anodes resemble “plasticine” – the two struggle to bond tightly, resulting in low lithium-ion conduction efficiency and rapid lifespan degradation. This has long been the ‘last mile’ hindering industrialisation.

II. Three Key Breakthroughs Overcome Industrialisation Bottlenecks in Solid-State Battery Technology

This year, Chinese scientists have achieved breakthroughs in three critical technologies, laying a solid foundation for the mass production of solid-state batteries:

Iodine-ion ‘special adhesive’ technology

Developed by a team from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, this technology actively flows towards the electrode-electrolyte interface during battery operation, automatically filling microscopic voids to achieve tighter material bonding. This resolves the longstanding bottleneck of ‘poor interface contact,’ facilitating smoother lithium-ion pathways.

Polymer Scaffold ‘Flexible Transformation’

A team from the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, utilised polymer scaffold structures to impart flexibility to solid-state electrolytes, akin to an ‘enhanced cling film.’ This enables over 20,000 bending cycles without damage. Concurrently, battery capacity increased by approximately 86%, achieving both high energy density and mechanical resilience.

Fluorinated Polyether ‘Fluorine-Reinforced’ Technology

A Tsinghua University team introduced fluorinated polyether materials, endowing the electrolyte with exceptional high-pressure resistance and puncture resistance.

Even after needle penetration and 120°C high-temperature testing at full charge, the battery remained safe with no explosion risk, truly achieving ‘dual online safety and endurance’.

These technological breakthroughs signify that solid-state batteries are no longer far from large-scale application.

III. A New Inflection Point for the Energy Storage Industry: Higher Density, Longer Lifecycles

For the energy storage sector, solid-state technology signifies more than mere performance enhancement; it introduces a fundamentally new logic for system design:

Higher energy density → Smaller-volume storage systems, reducing site and transport costs;

Longer lifecycles → Lower battery maintenance frequency, decreasing LCOE (Levelised Cost of Energy);

Enhanced safety ratings → Adaptability to extreme temperatures, high altitudes, and confined spaces;

Elevated voltage platforms → Integration with liquid cooling technologies to construct efficient, intelligent, modular energy storage units.

It is foreseeable that once solid-state technology matures, commercial and industrial energy storage, integrated photovoltaic-storage-charging systems, and data centre backup power applications will all witness a new wave of innovation.

IV. Highjoule(HJ Group): Driving Energy Storage Advancement Through Technological Innovation

As a leading domestic provider of energy storage system solutions, Highjoule(HJ Group) consistently operates at the forefront of technological transformation.

From optimising liquid cooling systems to intelligent energy management and innovative high-density storage cabinet structures, Highjoule(HJ Group) continually advances the safety, intelligence, and modularity of its energy storage products.

Its flagship product—the 418kWh liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet—is renowned for its high integration, intelligent thermal management, and comprehensive safety protections. It offers flexible deployment across industrial and commercial parks, photovoltaic-storage charging stations, and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Building upon this foundation, Highjoule(HJ Group) is actively advancing R&D in solid-state energy storage systems, exploring applications of solid-state battery technology in:

Industrial and commercial standalone energy storage power stations;

Off-grid island microgrid systems;

Backup power for telecommunications and data centres;

Residential and community-level energy management systems.

By integrating solid-state battery technology, Highjoule(HJ Group) aims to develop next-generation energy storage solutions featuring higher energy density, extended lifespan, and enhanced safety and reliability.

V. Co-Creating a Green Future: From Research Breakthroughs to Energy Revolution

The advancement of solid-state batteries represents a pivotal step in the new energy industry’s transition from quantitative to qualitative transformation.

From research to application, from laboratories to factories, China is building the world’s most dynamic energy storage ecosystem.

Highjoule(HJ Group) will continue to uphold its ‘safety, intelligence, efficiency’ R&D philosophy. Based on its two core technological pathways—liquid cooling and solid-state—it will collaborate with industry chain partners to jointly advance the commercialisation of energy storage technologies, thereby contributing to the global pursuit of sustainable clean energy development.