Halide solid electrolytes (SEs) have surged in popularity as they offer a good balance of high ionic conductivity (>1 mS/cm), high voltage stability (>4V), and mechanical properties. More recently, amorphous halides (including oxyhalide) SEs have been reported with ultra-high ionic conductivity of >10 mS/cm. In this talk, we demonstrate how we leverage cutting-edge atomistic simulation tools to investigate and elucidate the conduction mechanisms in amorphous halide SEs.

Lithium metal batteries have not yet reached mainstream use. Experts from industry and academia explored why, identifying open research questions and potential actions. This talk shares insights from those discussions at the last Lithium Metal Battery Workshop and their outcomes.

Silicon holds immense promise as an anode material in solid-state batteries (SSBs) due to its exceptional energy density and performance. However, its commercialization is hindered by significant challenges, including substantial volume expansion, low electronic and ionic conductivity, high interfacial impedance, and poor initial coulombic efficiency. This work presents a detailed review of advancements in Si-based anodes for SSBs across material, electrode, and cell levels. From this analysis, a promising strategy for designing a robust, high-performing silicon anode for SSBs has been identified. A prototype cell was fabricated, its performance evaluated, and perspectives on further enhancing solid-state silicon anodes are discussed.

From lead-acid to nickel-cadmium to lithium-ion, batteries have become foundational to modern life. The electrification of drones, eVTOLs, robotics, and data centers demands step-change improvements in energy storage. Where do solid-state batteries truly fit, and what will determine their success? In this talk, Dr. Cheeseman examines five critical ingredients: product proposition, cost, performance, safety, and supply chain.

As a pioneer in solid-state batteries, Blue Solutions continues to advance its solid-state chemistry in automotive and diverse applications. In addition to our OEM work, one example is a demonstrated 70% improvement in range for a two-wheeler. We’ll present the latest results of our chemistry for automotive and other applications based on our polymer electrolyte and sustainable cell design.

Lithium-sulfur batteries have been studied since the 1960s. The technology has been notoriously challenging to commercialize despite sulfur's high theoretical capacity, abundance, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Key technical hurdles include the polysulfide shuttle and poor cycling of both the lithium and sulfur electrode. PolyPlus has fundamentally eliminated the polysulfide shuttle with a ceramic solid electrolyte, replaced the lithium electrode with graphite, and introduced a high-capacity aqueous polysulfide electrode that cycles reversibly. PolyPlus will also discuss its low-cost synthesis for lithium sulfide.

Blue Current is developing fully dry solid-state batteries featuring silicon-active material anodes and flexible composite electrolytes. The company is now scaling production of 2 Ah solid-state pouch cells at its pilot facility in Hayward, CA. In this presentation, Blue Current will provide a detailed exploration of its cell performance capabilities and an update regarding the company’s pouch-cell commercialization roadmap.

Li metal is critical for reaching batteries with specific energies greater than 500 Wh/kg and energy densities greater than 1000 Wh/L. While significant research has been placed on electrolytes including solid-state electrolytes and on cathode design, the impact of the Li metal properties on performance is often overlooked. This presentation will explore the impact of Li purity, Li microstructure, and Li alloying on solid-state battery performance.

Reactive carbide precursor‐based synthesis of NASICON‐type NZSP (Na1+xZr2SixP3‐xO12) solid‐state electrolyte (SSE) is demonstrated, in contrast to the established oxide‐based approach. Exothermic decomposition of ZrC and SiC in air homogenizes microstructure, yielding 98% compact density after conventional sintering at 1200 °C. Quantitative stereology demonstrates that significant microstructural differences are present. Compacts of carbide‐derived Carb‐NZSP are 98% dense with a secondary zirconium oxide (ZrO2) volume fraction of 0.2% ± 0.3%, versus 93% dense and 3% ± 1% for oxide‐derived baseline. For Carb‐NZSP, the secondary glassy phosphate phase is agglomerated, while for baseline, it is dispersed and percolated. Electrochemical testing combined with post‐mortem analysis demonstrates how microstructural control of secondary phases is critical for dendrite suppression: Carb‐NZSP critical current density (CCD) is 3.1 ± 0.8 mA cm−2 at 0.1 mAh cm−2, versus 1.0 ± 0.7 mA cm−2 at 0.1 mAh cm−2. Cryogenic focused ion beam (cryo‐FIB) analysis demonstrates that in both materials, the porous 2D sheet‐like sodium metal dendrites propagate around and subsume NZSP grains, likely following a path enriched with glassy phase and with porosity. Dendrites also flow around isolated zirconia particles. Phase-field simulation reveals deflection of dendrites by mechanically tough zirconia, while brittle glassy phase accelerates dendrite growth, especially when finely distributed.

Avicenne Energy will be presenting the major changes in electrification in eve- expanding applications that will drive broader demand than just EV and emerging technologies that are becoming more available. Presentation will be focused on North America, but also highlight how the region's value chain is structured vs. other regions.  Forecasts will cover both global and North America perspectives.

We will present 100 mA/cm2 current densities and 99.995% Li-cycling Coulombic efficiency using our novel 3D anode architecture and recently developed mixed ionic and electronic conducting garnet. By reducing dense layer thickness and incorporating higher energy density cathodes we will further show =500 Wh/kg full cell performance. All at room temperature with zero applied pressure.

We have recently developed a unique solid-state composite polymer electrolyte capable of operating efficiently with lithium metal, opening new pathways for high-energy-density batteries. Proof-of-concept studies and detailed characterization have been performed in lithium–air, lithium–sulfur, and lithium-ion battery cells, demonstrating its versatility across multiple chemistries. Since its initial development, our efforts have focused on optimizing the electrolyte’s physicochemical properties to enable scalable manufacturing. In this presentation, I will highlight our latest findings and discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing this electrolyte in advanced lithium-metal and lithium-ion battery technologies, with a primary focus on lithium–air systems.

We have developed a powder coating approach to address limitations to the manufacturability and performance of sulfide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs). Ultrathin (= 1 nm) coatings on SSE powders stabilize them to aggressively oxidizing atmospheres while significantly improving electrochemical performance. The scalability of this approach is demonstrated with up to 100 g/batch processing achieved. This strategy enables a new framework for accelerating the integration of sulfide SSEs into next-generation solid-state batteries.

The commercialization of SSB technology presents both significant opportunities and challenges. This presentation explores the critical pathways for bringing SSBs from the R&D phase to commercial launch. Focusing on the importance of strategic collaborations across the value chain, we discuss how partnerships between material and equipment suppliers, battery manufacturers, OEMs, and research institutions can accelerate technological advancements, reduce costs and time-to-market, and enhance scalability.

ION's customer engagement has moved conversations out of the lab and into the field. Real-world considerations—voltage profile, operating temperature window, failure modes, cleanliness, and swell—now overtake academic metrics like theoretical energy density and cycle life. Rather than "What can the battery do?", customers focus on "What device designs are now possible with ION's battery in it?"

This presentation introduces the development of UL’s new draft safety standard for solid-state batteries, UL 2285, and illustrates how collaborative research with academic and industrial partners can support evidence-based standard development. Representative solid-state battery samples are evaluated using key safety test methods defined in the draft standard to investigate failure behaviors under thermal, electrical, and mechanical abuse conditions. Experimental observations are used to examine the applicability, limitations, and sensitivity of current test criteria. Based on these findings, potential refinements to test conditions and evaluation approaches are discussed, with the goal of improving the technical robustness, consistency, and practical relevance of future solid-state battery safety standards.