China’s new battery could power EVs and phones three times longer

Chinese scientists from the Academy of Sciences have developed a novel self-healing solid-state lithium battery that could significantly extend the lifespan of electric vehicles (EVs), aircraft, and smartphones—potentially tripling the duration these devices run on a single charge. This breakthrough addresses a longstanding challenge in solid-state battery technology: the tendency of rigid battery layers to separate over time due to expansion and contraction during charging, which disrupts electrical flow and reduces battery life. The team introduced iodine ions into the solid electrolyte, which migrate to the electrode-electrolyte interface during operation, forming a thin iodine-rich layer that fills microscopic cracks and pores, creating a self-healing interface that maintains layer cohesion without the need for heavy external pressure. This innovation eliminates the bulky equipment and extreme pressure (over 50 atmospheres) traditionally required to keep solid-state batteries stable, simplifying manufacturing and improving durability. Independent experts have praised the approach as a decisive step toward commercializing all-solid-state batteries. Prototype batteries with this design demonstrated stable