Recently, the news that a domestic start-up enterprise's solid-state battery has been successfully put into production has smashed the battery industry circle. When many domestic enterprises are still trying to achieve high-volume three-yuan mass production, some people have already realized the overtaking of the curve, solid-state battery. Is it really the tipping point of commercialization?
Open the first step of mass production of domestic solid-state batteries
On November 19th, Qingtao (Kunshan) Energy Development Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Qingtao Development”) announced that its first solid lithium battery production line has been officially put into operation in November with an annual production capacity of 100 MW. Time. At present, Qingtao Energy has developed a high-energy-density all-solid-state battery with a monomer energy density of 430Wh/kg, which can easily reach more than 300Wh/kg in the mass production stage, and can meet the challenge of achieving the national requirement of 300Wh/kg by 2020.
It is understood that this recently-famous start-up company was founded by a team from the Tsinghua University Nancewen academician. The difference with many domestic battery companies is that the company has set its sights on lithium batteries since its inception. The next generation of direction - solid state batteries.
Indeed, solid-state batteries are considered safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries and have higher energy densities, and are considered the next generation of high-capacity energy storage solutions for high-tech companies worldwide. Replacing electrolytes in liquid or gel form with solid and conductive materials can effectively improve the energy density and safety of existing lithium ion batteries.
In fact, as early as 2002, the founding team of Qingtao began to develop solid-state lithium batteries; in 2006, the LLTO solid electrolyte materials developed by the Qingtao team demonstrated excellent performance; in 2010, the team developed the garnet structure LLZO solid electrolyte The mature material technology has laid a solid foundation for the clear ceramic solid lithium battery. It is also relying on the accumulated technical experience of the early stage that Qingtao's solid-state battery industrialization schedule leads the industry peers.
For many companies that study solid-state batteries, how to break through the bottleneck of electrolytes is particularly important, and most companies are stuck in this step. The research and development process of Qingtao's solid-state battery has begun to accelerate. At present, it has broken through the core technology of all-solid electrolyte materials (LLTO, LLZO) production technology, and can produce all-solid electrolyte membranes by various methods such as tape casting and film preparation.
At the CIBF exhibition site at the end of May this year, Qingtao Development demonstrated the high-safety test video of the Qingtao solid-state battery that has not yet been mass-produced: the staff cut the solid-state battery from the middle with scissors, and can see several details. First, the battery Does not contain any flowable electrolyte; second, the battery does not smoke after cutting, does not burn, does not explode, third, after the completion of the entire operation, the battery returns to the original stable voltage level.
From a technical point of view, the progress of solid-state battery research has indeed reached the critical point of industrial application.
How far is it from commercialization?
The emergence of a new technology does not mean that you can enter the homes of ordinary people immediately. It is very important that the technology is economical in the case of mass production, which is the key to winning market recognition.
“From the research level to the industrialization stage and then to the b-end customers, solid-state batteries must explore the process of gradual shaping of processes, equipment, materials, etc., and the path to reduce costs in the process of industrialization.” The CEO of the famous power battery company told OFweek lithium grid that the symbolic significance of Qingtao Development's announcement of the first solid-state battery production line is greater than the actual significance.
Compared to the pragmatism of the industry, the capital market seems to prefer a beautiful story.
"In China, the first to achieve mass production of solid-state batteries, this is probably the most exciting story in the power battery field after the listing in Ningde era." A long-term focus on new energy in China Merchants Securities believes that this is a Excellent subject matter, and not purely conceptual hype, can make real visible products, and take out the production line of mass production. With this point, it is enough to get the favor of the capital market.
In fact, the development of Qingtao in the external display of the video, a good display of the advantages of solid-state batteries in terms of safety, thin and light, flexible, but other performance indicators, such as battery rate performance, cycle life and other information, Little is known about the outside world.
“Achieving mass production is not the same as commercialization. Commercialization needs to be considered not only for use, but also for good use and affordability.” Analysts at OFweek Industry Research Institute believe that the development of Qingtao can take the lead in solid state Mass production of the battery proves that China's industrialization process in this field is not lagging behind, but there is still a long way to go to commercialization.
The real problem that needs to be solved in front of Qingtao Energy is the lack of an electronic product that actually uses its solid-state battery to verify the feasibility of its commercialization. This is also the focus of Qingtao Energy's upcoming efforts. Qingtao Energy CEO Li Wei said in an interview with the media that the company's mass-produced solid-state batteries will be in the form of a single, high-value-added for wearable, digital, military power supplies. Application area.
