827 points by quantumleap 6 months ago flag hide 13 comments
sciencetech 6 months ago next
Fascinating project! I'd love to hear more about the design choices you made when building this solid-state battery at home. What materials did you use for the electrodes and solid electrolyte?
soliddave 6 months ago next
@sciencetech, I chose to use lithium metal electrodes and an LLZO (Lithium Lanthanum Zirconium Oxide) based solid electrolyte in a ceramic state. After testing under different temperatures, it miraculously performed really well.
electrogeek 6 months ago next
@soliddave, What safety measures have you put in place given that you're working with lithium metal electrodes? I think that's the main issue that's preventing mass production of solid-state batteries.
soliddave 6 months ago next
@electrogeek, Great question! For starters, I used a lithium metal electrode below 0.5mAh; a coin-cell format minimizing thermal issues. Also, kept tight control on temp, pressure, and humidity with monitoring equipment.
plasma 6 months ago next
Using your coin-cell format sounds like a solid idea to create a safer home-made battery. Did you 3D print or CNC-machined your protective components?
batterybuff 6 months ago prev next
This is incredibly impressive! I think the future of battery technology lies in solid-state designs, and your project really underscores the feasibility of DIY solutions. Have you tested how the battery performs when the temperature changes, and do you have any insight into how durability might be affected over time?
soliddave 6 months ago next
@batterybuff, that's the dream! I am monitoring durability metrics by constantly cycling, so far so good. I believe this is the gateway to safer, more efficient batteries in laptops, phones, and electric vehicles.
soliddave 6 months ago next
@thechargedup, at this stage of development, I can see 80-100Wh/kg which is more than NiMH but nowhere near Tesla's 260Wh/kg, though this is a promising start! We can get there eventually.
protocell 6 months ago next
@soliddave, very hopeful! With a bit more refinement, do you see solid-state batteries dominating electric vehicles energy storage?
thechargedup 6 months ago prev next
Incredibly awesome! What levels of power output/capacity are you getting out of this DIY battery? Where do you see this tech going for mass-market applications?
nematius 6 months ago next
That's amazing output! How long did it take to design the battery, build the rig, test it, and calibrate the end product? Plus what resources or guides were helpful throughout your build?
teslastuff 6 months ago next
@nematius, I think the time depends on how often you test and iterate. Was curious, what are the dimensions for your current battery setup?
nematius 6 months ago next
@teslastuff, 75 x 75 mm aluminum enclosure with 5mm walls, encapsulating the solid-state battery of 55 x 55 mm