Researchers Optimize Lithium-Ion Conductors in Solid-State Batteries

Storage Technology Researchers Optimize Lithium-Ion Conductors in Solid-State Batteries

2025-05-14 Source: TU Munich | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Solid-state batteries are considered an important future technology: they can store more energy and do not consist of flammable materials like the currently common lithium batteries. Researchers have now achieved a new record.

A team led by Prof. Thomas F. Fässler has not only set a new record with their work but also discovered a completely new class of substances.(Image: Robert Reich/TUM) — A team led by Prof. Thomas F. Fässler has not only set a new record with their work but also discovered a completely new class of substances.
(Image: Robert Reich/TUM)

Researchers from TUM and TUMint.Energy Research GmbH developed a new material made of lithium, antimony, and scandium, which conducts lithium ions over 30 percent faster than all previously known substances.

Fast Ions Due to Vacancies in the Crystal Lattice

The team led by Prof. Thomas F. Fässler from the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry focusing on New Materials replaced part of the lithium in the compound lithium antimonide with the metal scandium. This intentionally creates gaps, known as vacancies, in the crystal lattice of the conductor material. These gaps help the lithium ions move more easily and quickly and enabled the new world record.

Since the value is so significantly above those of known materials, they consulted the Chair of Technical Electrochemistry under Prof. Hubert Gasteiger at TUM to secure the result. Co-author Tobias Kutsch, who conducted further tests, noted: "Because the material also conducts electricity, it was a particular challenge and we had to adjust our measurement methods accordingly."

Our result currently represents a significant advancement in basic research. By incorporating small amounts of scandium, we have come across a new principle that could prove to be pioneering for other element combinations.

Prof. Thomas F. Fässler

Fässler sees great potential for the new material: "Our result currently represents a significant advancement in basic research. With the incorporation of small amounts of scandium, we have come across a new principle that could prove groundbreaking for other element combinations. Many tests are still necessary for an application in a battery cell. We are confident because materials that can conduct both ions and electrons are particularly well-suited as additives in electrodes. Since promising practical applications can result from this, we have already filed for a patent on our development." In addition to higher speed, the material also offers thermal stability and is easy to produce using proven chemical processes.

Higher Conductivity

The researchers have even discovered a completely new class of substances with their work, as lead author Jingwen Jiang, a researcher at TUMint.Energy Research GmbH, emphasizes: "Our combination consists of lithium-antimony and can easily be transferred to lithium-phosphorus. While the previous record holder was based on lithium-sulfur and required five additional elements for optimization, in our case only scandium is needed as an additional component. We believe that our discovery can have significance beyond this example for increasing conductivity in other substances."

According to the researchers, this success is based on the close cooperation between TUM and TUMint.Energy Research GmbH as part of a strategic funding initiative by the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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