Samsung, LG go in different directions for all solid battery

South Korea’s household names Samsung and LG are in a new race to win the market for solid-state batteries, the next-generation battery with enhanced safety and efficiency.

According to the battery industry, Samsung SDI Co., Korea’s No. 3 battery maker, is seeking to mass-produce prismatic cell-type solid-state batteries by 2027 although it is currently testing pouch-type solid battery samples.

It is contrary to its bigger rival LG Energy Solution Ltd. striving to commercialize pouch-type solid-state batteries.

The solid-state battery is considered a promising solution to address the limitations of traditional lithium-ion batteries such as a fire risk and limited range, and many battery manufacturers are rushing to produce them to revolutionize industries ranging from electric vehicles to renewable energy systems.

It uses solid materials for the electrolyte, which transports the positive lithium ions between the cathode and anode in a battery, while current batteries use the liquid electrolyte. Solid-state batteries are expected to hold more energy than liquid electrolyte batteries.

PRISMATIC CELLS FOR SAMSUNG SDI

Samsung SDI expects the prismatic solid-state battery cell will maximize the benefits of solid-state battery technology, such as safety, as the prismatic cell is covered by aluminum, which is highly resistant to external shock.

It is important to keep a fire risk caused by external shocks in the solid-state battery at nearly zero as the all solid battery can be used not only in EVs but also ships, drones and urban air mobility vehicles.

“Enhancing the safety of exterior materials is critical in solid-state batteries,” Samsung SDI’s Executive Vice President Go Joo-young said during the first SNE Battery Day held in Seoul, Korea on Wednesday.

“Pouch cells are vulnerable to fire” because its exterior material is film, added. Go.

The prismatic cell is also a mainstream battery form factor, making up more than 50% of the entire EV lithium-ion battery market.

This is another reason to make Samsung SDI bet big on the prismatic solid-state battery.

POUCH CELLS FOR HIGHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY

However, LG Energy Solution expects pouch-type solid-state batteries to be better at achieving higher energy efficiency than existing liquid electrolyte batteries because it is easier to increase pressure inside the pouch cell to facilitate ion transfers further.  

Heightening pressure in the prismatic cell is more complicated and costs more.

This means that the pouch solid-state battery cell is better at improving energy efficiency and more marketable, according to LG Energy Solution. 

Korea’s largest battery maker also believes the pouch cell is safe considering that a liquid electrolyte leak from external shocks causes a lithium-ion battery fire.

LG Energy Solution aims to mass-produce all solid batteries in 2030.

Write to Sang-Hoon Sung at uphoon@hankyung.com
Sookyung Seo edited this article.