In 2017, 94-year-old John B. Goodenough made headlines with his invention of a solid battery that could be charged and discharged hundreds of times without degradation. The new battery was not only more stable and less flammable than today’s lithium-ion batteries, but it was also cheaper to produce. With the cost of electric vehicles (EVs) a major barrier to widespread adoption, Goodenough’s invention could finally make EVs a viable option for the mass market.
Goodenough’s solid battery is based on a lithium-metal anode and a cobalt oxide cathode, which are separated by a ceramic electrolyte. The electrolyte allows ions to flow between the anode and cathode, storing and releasing energy as needed. Goodenough’s team has already created a prototype that can be charged and discharged 300 times without degradation, and they believe the battery can be further improved with further development.
The benefits of Goodenough’s solid battery are twofold. First, the solid electrolyte makes the battery much more stable than current lithium-ion batteries, which use a liquid electrolyte that can be volatile and flammable. Second, the use of cheaper materials like iron phosphate for the cathode could make Goodenough’s battery up to five times cheaper to produce than current lithium-ion batteries. This would be a major boon for the EV industry, which has been struggling to compete with the low cost of gasoline-powered vehicles.
Unfortunately, Goodenough’s solid battery is still in the early stages of development and it will likely be several years before it is ready for commercial use. Nonetheless, the potential benefits of the technology are clear, and investors would do well to keep an eye on this promising new technology.
Goodenough’s solid battery is a promising new technology that could have major implications for the EV industry. While the technology is still in development, investors would do well to keep an eye on this promising new technology.