Solid-state battery breakthrough could solve the biggest flaw in this potentially world-changing technology

close up of two phones battery health diagnostics
(Image credit: Future / James Ide)

Researchers at Harvard have developed a new type of solid-state battery employing solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte, as opposed to using liquid or polymer gel electrolytes in conventional lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries that power most of our current devices.

Solid-state batteries face numerous challenges impeding widespread adoption, such as flammability, limited voltage, poor performance and structural weaknesses, hindering their progress in the past.

A recent breakthrough resulted in the team creating a small, postage stamp-sized high-capacity battery capable of over 6,000 charge and discharge cycles while retaining up to 80% of its capacity. It charges fully in only 10 minutes, surpassing the average smartphone, which typically lasts around 300 to 500 cycles.

The paper doesn’t state if and when these batteries could become available but the technology has been licensed to Adden Energy, a Harvard spinoff company co-founded by Associate Professor of Materials Science at SEAS, Xin Li, and three Harvard alumni.

Lithium-ion technology’s days are numbered

Lithium-ion technology’s days are numbered

Solid-state batteries aren't a new technology and were first developed in the 19th century. Even recent iterations pose dangers, as they can easily short out or catch fire due to dendrite formation on the anode's surface. Dendrites can grow like roots, ultimately penetrating the barrier separating the anode and cathode, causing damage.

Dendrite formation occurs during charging as lithium ions migrate from the cathode to the anode, adhering to the anode's surface through a process known as plating. This plating acts like plaque on teeth, creating an uneven surface that can even rupture the battery. During discharge, this coating needs to be stripped away, leading to holes and gaps, increasing the likelihood of plating the risk of damage.

Previously, the team proposed a solution: designing a multi-layer battery incorporating various materials sandwiched between the anode and cathode. However, this approach only slows and contains lithium dendrite buildup and prevents penetration.

New research suggests a more effective method using micro-sized silicon particles to address the problem. Li, said, "In our design, lithium metal wraps around the silicon particle, like a hard chocolate shell around a hazelnut core in a chocolate truffle."

While this method has proven successful, the team is exploring using other materials, including silver, that could potentially offer similar performance and be easier or cheaper to mass produce.

The team has successfully scaled up the technology to produce a smartphone-sized pouch cell battery, which is still under development but could lead to some incredible advancements in handheld electronics.

Electric Dreams 

The strides made by the Harvard research team in advancing solid-state battery technology hold tremendous promise for the future of energy storage. 

The breakthroughs in addressing the longstanding challenges associated with these batteries could pave the way for longer-lasting and more efficient energy systems that could completely change our phones, computers, and even transport making safer, more powerful, and longer-lasting energy closer to becoming a reality.

You may also like

Staff Writer, Mobile Computing

James Ide was a writer for TechRadar specializing in phones and tablets, having previously worked at The Daily Mirror since 2016, covering news and reviews.  

James loves messing with the latest tech, especially phones due to their incredibly rapid pace of development.

When not surrounded by various devices and/or tinkering with gadgets while putting them through their paces, James has a love of handheld consoles.

He is almost the textbook definition of a geek, who loves sci-fi, comics, games and of course, all things tech. If you think you have a story for him or just want to challenge him at Smash Bros, get in touch. 

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Samsung's game-changing wearable battery-life upgrade could arrive next year, and even the Apple Watch could benefit
Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed earbuds and case on table with pink and plant in background
Feel like the battery on your wireless earbuds degrades faster than other tech? You might not be wrong – scientists have dug into how device design may make the difference
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra on top of a table
Samsung Galaxy S26 could get a major battery upgrade that makes it worth waiting for
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus against a houseplant
Xiaomi tipped to set impressive new phone battery benchmark in 2025 – and I hope Apple and Samsung are taking notes
Microscopy of a hypergolic, nanoporous carbon engineered at Cornell to have the highest surface area ever reported
11 basketball courts in 1 teaspoon: this new material, borne from the space age, could hold the key to next-generation batteries and ultra small power cells
Fungal 3D printed battery
A self-destructing, 3D printed fungi-based battery could one day power sensors all around you by feasting on sugar
Latest in Phones
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Man using iMessage on an iPhone
Apple will finally enable encrypted RCS messages between iOS and Android, and it's about time
Android 16 logo on a phone
Android 16 Beta 3 has arrived – here are the 4 features I think will be the most useful
Apple iPhone 16e on blue background with big savings text overlay
Total Wireless' latest iPhone 16e deal gets you $300 off plus a cheap plan for a year
Apple iPhone 16e REVIEW
Some iPhone 16e owners are reporting Bluetooth audio issues that could be an iOS problem
The Apple iPhone 16e held at a slant at a window
From iPhone to Android and (almost) back again – the iPhone 16e failed to lure me back to iOS
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough