SOLiTHOR achieves key energy density milestone while further validating alternative pathway to manufacture scalable solid-state batteries

SOLiTHOR, a European deep-tech chemistry start-up developing next generation solid-state lithium battery technology, today shares a major technical update supported by a series of validating metrics. These include the first-time impregnation of the company’s unique, proprietary Solid Composite Electrolyte with a high-loading cathode that has an areal capacity of 8mAh/cm2. Thanks to this achievement, SOLiTHOR’s technology has reached 465 Wh/kg and 1400 Wh/L at stack level in a pouch design.

SOLiTHOR’s unique sol-gel chemistry offers an alternative pathway to manufacture solid-state batteries and addresses the drawbacks of competing polymer, inorganic, and semi-solid technologies. SOLiTHOR’s technology does not require liquid electrolyte-filling and delivers high energy density under a balanced set of operational conditions including operating temperature,
c-rate, and cycle life.

– In multilayer pouch cells at 25°C, SOLiTHOR’s technology has demonstrated continuous discharge rates of up to 5C with minimal capacity loss, as well as pulse discharge rates of up to 10C pulse for 30 seconds at 50% state of charge. This high-power capability makes it well suited to applications that need sudden bursts of power, such as drones during takeoff and landing.

– The technology has demonstrated a battery lifespan of >500 discharge cycles on a 1 Ah multilayer pouch cell with >80% retention of initial capacity, indicating strong durability and the potential for long service life in demanding applications.

– The company also successfully manufactured its first 10 Ah demonstration cell, demonstrating the scalability of SOLiTHOR’s technology for a broader set of real-world applications.

– SOLiTHOR’s technology is roll-to-roll compatible and, compared to conventional or semi-solid lithium-ion battery production approaches, it skips the electrolyte-filling step of production and shortens formation and aging by two-thirds. Together, these steps can account for up to 25% of current processing costs. Existing Li-ion facilities can be upgraded for solid-state production with no new equipment, limited switching costs, and reduced operational costs.

– In safety assessments, SOLiTHOR’s technology successfully passed the overcharge and nail penetration tests on a 100% charge multilayer pouch cell with no smoke, leakage, thermal runaway, or fire.

“SOLiTHOR has developed a chemistry that allows the industry to rethink the manufacturing of solid-state battery cells,” says Dr. Fanny Bardé, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at SOLiTHOR. “These technical achievements not only prove that the chemistry works, but that it delivers the combination of energy density, power performance, and cycle life required for practical applications. The achievements also highlight our ability to accelerate development, with faster iterations and more effective impact on performance.”

The performance of SOLiTHOR’s chemistry, together with its simplified manufacturability, helps the industry overcome the key barriers to making solid-state batteries a reality on the market. SOLiTHOR’s Solid Composite Electrolyte also provides an alternative to a variety of semi-solid approaches, can be fully produced with materials that are widely available at scale in Europe, and is compatible with the European industrial base. SOLiTHOR is expected to benefit from emerging European legislation such as the European Industrial Accelerator Act and contribute to a greater energy, industrial, and value chain resilience on the continent.
“With this major technical update, we are demonstrating that our technology can be realistically produced, satisfying the demands of high-performance and high-value applications within aerospace, dual-use, and mobility,” said Rodrigo P. Navarro, CEO at SOLiTHOR. “We believe our technology will offer a compelling opportunity for the industry that addresses both technical performance and manufacturing economics, while contributing to the strategic autonomy of Europe.”

SOLiTHOR is expanding its work with partners to validate its technology. For instance, the company was granted its first defence funding as part of the DEEP-TECH project supported by the European Defence Fund to advance Europe’s deep-sea autonomy.

About SOLiTHOR:

SOLiTHOR is a European deep-tech chemistry start-up developing advanced materials to enable easily-scalable, next-generation solid-state batteries. By combining advanced chemical and nanotech R&D, a strong patent portfolio, and partnerships across the value chain, SOLiTHOR aims to make solid-state batteries technically viable and commercially manufacturable at scale. SOLiTHOR is headquartered in Sint-Truiden, Belgium.

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