Solid State Batteries: How Our Future Phones Could Benefit From this Technology and How it Differs from Lithium Polymer and Lithium Ion Batteries

wccftech.com:

We recently talked about how Samsung might be working on developing solid-state batteries for smartphones, as the company has filed some patents and has even started working on a prototype. However, we know that it will take some time before these batteries are finally available to the masses. But until that happens, we can step back and start looking at what solid-state batteries are and how they differ from lithium polymer and lithium-ion batteries, two of the most common batteries in the smartphone market.

The lithium-ion batteries we see in the market comprise a cathode, anode, separator, and electrolyte. In comparison, a solid-state battery uses solid electrolytes instead of liquid. Research has also shown that solid-state batteries are better in terms of overall stability and safety as they do not catch fire or start swelling up, which is a common issue in a lot of li-ion batteries available in the market. Below is a comparison diagram between solid-state and lithium-ion batteries, courtesy of Samsung.

Another benefit you get from solid-state batteries is the fact that these batteries bring a lower power density and higher energy density. These batteries are already commonly used in electric vehicles. When they do come to smartphones as well, they will actually result in phone batteries being smaller in size but packing larger capacity. These days, a 5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery is considerably larger than a solid-state battery can do at the same capacity.

Solid-state batteries also showcase a lower self-discharge, which could theoretically improve the standby timing of smartphones. These batteries offer incredible resistance to heat, allowing for faster charging, and considering how there is no limitation to how