A safe, low-cost, rechargeable battery with high energy density and long cycle life could substitute for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and consumer electronics. The new solid-state battery has three times the energy density of today’s Li-ion options.

Professor John Goodenough, co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery, and lead researcher on the solid-glass electrolyte battery. The University of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas (Austin) research team, led by the co-inventor of the Li-ion battery, uses glass electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes. This design supports use of an alkali-metal anode without the formation of dendrites, resolving fire and explosion hazards.

Cells incorporating alkali-metal anodes (lithium, sodium or potassium) demonstrated more than 1,200 cycles with low cell resistance in experiments. The solid-glass electrolytes can operate, or have high conductivity, at -20 C, indicating reliable automotive application in subzero degree weather.