Weekend Update: Significant Breakthrough in Solid-State Batteries

Recent reports indicate that a team led by Professor Zhang Qiang from Tsinghua University’s Chemical Engineering Department has made a significant advancement in the field of lithium battery polymer electrolytes. This breakthrough offers new ideas and technical support for the development of practical solid-state lithium batteries that boast high safety and high energy density. The findings have been published online in Nature.

Currently, solid-state batteries face two major challenges in practical applications: first, the poor interface contact caused by the rigid contact between solid materials; and second, the difficulty of the electrolyte to withstand the extreme chemical environment posed by high-voltage positive electrodes and strongly reducing negative electrodes within a wide voltage window. In response to these issues, Professor Zhang’s team proposed a new design strategy called “anionic-rich solvated structures” and successfully developed a new type of fluorinated polyether electrolyte. This electrolyte utilizes heat-induced in-situ polymerization techniques to effectively enhance the physical contact and ionic conductivity at the solid-state interface, significantly improving the high-voltage performance and interface stability of lithium batteries.

Thanks to the optimized interface performance, polymer batteries assembled with this electrolyte have exhibited a range of excellent electrochemical properties. A polymer soft-pack full battery with a capacity of 8.96Ah achieves a remarkable energy density of 604Wh/kg under an external pressure of 1MPa, surpassing current commercial batteries. Additionally, this battery passed safety tests involving needle penetration and exposure to a 120°C thermal chamber for six hours without any incidents of combustion or explosion, demonstrating outstanding safety performance. This research outcome is expected to provide important technical references for the development of mature solid-state battery products.

The process of commercialization is expected to accelerate. The Action Plan for High-Quality Development of New Energy Storage Manufacturing Industry, jointly issued by eight departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, clearly designates solid-state batteries as a key area of focus. It supports the transition of lithium and sodium batteries towards solid-state and aims to establish three to five global leading enterprises by 2027. With advantages such as high energy density, safety, and longevity, solid-state batteries are poised to become the mainstream technology for the next generation of batteries.

According to the 2025 Solid-State Battery High-Quality Development Blue Paper, the solid-state battery industry is currently in a “sprint stage,” with global shipments expected to reach 614.1GWh by 2030, leading to a market scale exceeding hundreds of billions. In this context, solid-state batteries are becoming a key variable in reshaping the global automotive value chain, shifting the industry from “single technology competition” to “full-chain ecological collaboration.” Analysts from Industrial Securities predict that the commercialization of solid-state batteries will continue to accelerate by 2025. Solid-state batteries are not only set to gradually replace existing liquid lithium batteries in applications such as new energy vehicles and energy storage but are also expected to explore emerging markets like low-altitude flying vehicles, robotics, and data centers.

The solid-state battery sector has shown strong performance in September, with the Wind Solid-State Battery Index (8841671.WI) surging over 11%. Related stocks have performed even better. As of September 26, solid-state battery concept stocks have seen an average increase of 50.83% this year, with seven stocks doubling in value, including Shanghai Xiba, Xian Dao Intelligent, Defu Technology, Zhongyi Technology, Xiamen Tungsten New Energy, Guoxuan High-Tech, and Jinlongyu. On September 5, the A-share solid-state battery concept experienced a rare surge, with nearly 30 stocks hitting their daily limit, while the ChiNext Index soared 6.55% in a single day, and the battery industry index rose by an impressive 8.61%. On the afternoon of September 24, the solid-state battery concept strengthened again, with Enjie Co. reaching its limit, and Hai Muxing gaining over 14%, while Weilan Lithium Chip and Tianci Materials both approached their limit.

From a financial perspective, as of September 25, 21 solid-state battery concept stocks had net financing purchases exceeding 100 million yuan since September, with Ningde Times, Xian Dao Intelligent, Guoxuan High-Tech, Ganfeng Lithium, and Xiamen Tungsten New Energy leading the net financing purchases. Market interest in the solid-state battery sector continues to rise. Recently, several listed companies have made new advancements in solid-state batteries.

• Yiwei Lithium Energy: Successfully rolled out the self-developed “Longquan No. 2” sulfide all-solid-state battery at its Chengdu base, achieving an energy density exceeding 400Wh/kg and a capacity retention rate of over 92% after a thousand cycles, marking the mass production of Ah-level soft-pack all-solid-state batteries.
• Guoxuan High-Tech: Their “Jinshi Battery” has an energy density of 350Wh/kg and has passed several extreme safety tests, currently in the pilot production phase with a stable yield rate of 90%. The company has initiated the design work for a mass production line for all-solid-state batteries.
• Ningde Times: Chooses a sulfide + halide composite electrolyte system with an energy density surpassing 500Wh/kg. Their condensed state semi-solid state battery has already achieved mass production, with plans to realize small-scale production of all-solid-state batteries by 2027.
• BYD: The first electric vehicle equipped with an all-solid-state battery, the Seal EV, has completed a real-world test of 1300 kilometers, with a theoretical CLTC range of 1875 kilometers.
• Better Ray: Successfully developed the first lithium-carbon composite anode material for all-solid-state batteries, meeting customer application needs with the performance of its sulfide solid electrolyte.
• Tianqi Lithium: Actively involved in the solid-state battery sector, focusing on cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes. Their 30,000-ton battery-grade lithium hydroxide project was completed and put into operation on September 25, 2025, further enhancing the synergy of the supply chain.
• Funeng Technology: Completed the sampling of its first-generation sulfide all-solid-state battery and has developed a second-generation version with an energy density of 500Wh/kg.
• Xian Dao Intelligent: Has completed the entire line process for all-solid-state batteries, encompassing the preparation of anode and cathode electrodes, electrolyte membrane preparation, cutting and stacking, densification assembly, and formation and capacity testing, receiving orders from leading clients domestically and internationally.
• Yinghe Technology: Achieved a dual-path technology integration for wet and dry processes in the solid-state battery equipment field, delivering core equipment to multiple clients, including fully automated slurry preparation, wet coating, roller pressing, electrolyte transfer, and dry fiberization and multi-roll continuous rolling film composite equipment.
• Liyuanheng: The all-solid-state battery project for major automotive enterprises is progressing smoothly according to plan, with completion expected by the end of 2025.

According to Citic Securities, a surge in all-solid-state battery road tests is anticipated in 2025-2026, with small-scale installations expected by 2027 and mass production by 2030. The core challenges for solid-state batteries include addressing expansion and cycle life degradation issues. Beyond the new energy vehicle sector, the technical characteristics of solid-state batteries are expected to increase the demand for materials, manufacturing, and PACK processes related to battery cells. CICC’s analysis indicates that all-solid-state batteries are moving toward the industrialization phase, with automotive companies likely to begin small-scale installations by 2027, while the equipment sector will realize its value first. The market for all-solid-state battery equipment is projected to reach 2.5 billion yuan by 2027, growing to 27.3 billion yuan by 2030, with midstream equipment accounting for over 75% of this market, demonstrating clear application potential in scenarios such as electric vehicles and eVTOL.

According to Xin Da Securities, semi-solid oxide batteries have already achieved mass production, and within the all-solid-state domain, sulfide and halide routes show the greatest potential, with the supply chain gradually maturing by 2025. Solid-state batteries will drive value appreciation in electrolyte materials, with domestic production of lithium sulfide being key to reducing costs, while dry roller pressing and other equipment segments present clear incremental opportunities. Guotai Junan Securities notes that solid-state batteries are entering a breakthrough period from 0 to 1, with the industrialization process accelerating. Their high safety and energy density characteristics can adapt to various applications, such as new energy vehicles, low-altitude aircraft, and humanoid robots. Equipment companies are already laying out complete line solutions, becoming critical support in the supply chain.