Solid State Battery is a Battery that uses a solid electrolyte instead of the conventionally used, liquid electrolyte. The technology used in today’s world is either liquid or a gel like substance, and it has significant limitations when compared to a solid state electrolyte. mu Space and Advanced Technology an aerospace manufacturer and satellite internet provider, is producing its own solid state battery at their facility, Factory 1. Due to being a fairly new technology, producing a solid state battery requires a lot of time to be put into Research & Development.
As mentioned above a solid state battery uses a solid electrolyte, this technology allows for a higher efficiency and better performance. A battery is made up of 4 essential components among others, the anode, cathode, separator and the electrolyte. The anode and cathode remain the same between both types of batteries, however the difference comes in the middle area of the battery that separates the two ends. In a liquid state battery, the center part is made up of a separator to separate the anode from the cathode, while the electrolyte remains in liquid form in the middle of the battery. However, in a solid state battery the center is solid and acts as both the separator and in this case a solid state electrolyte. Unlike the solid state electrolyte, a liquid electrolyte heats up easier therefore limiting a batteries life, this is because liquid and solid have a different threshold of heat, with solid having a much higher threshold. The temperature limitations therefore cause batteries with a liquid state electrolyte to swell when overused or exposed to too much heat. Another advantage of solid state batteries is that they can prevent the growth of dendrites in the battery. The growth of dendrites can severely limit a batteries life, however they occur in batteries in liquid state and not when they are in solid state.
The question still stands, what makes solid state batteries better? Apart from their advantageous temperature limitations, solid state batteries also have a higher capacity and have a higher life cycle than conventional batteries used today. A higher capacity allows a battery to store more energy, while a higher life cycle decreases the amount of charge time needed. Decreasing the amount of charge time required ultimately helps a battery stay healthy for a much longer period of time. This factor, together with the fact that solid state batteries are able to withstand rough temperatures, whether cold or hot, makes them an innovation that can bring change to the world of technology.
mu Space is producing its own solid state battery, in order to function for use in space. This innovation, however, requires strenuous working hours put into Research & Development, as the technology has to get built from the ground up. mu Space are researching and developing these batteries at their own Battery Lab located at the company’s facility, Factory 1.
