Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

Next-generation lithium batteries

Solid-state, lithium-sulphur and lithium-air cells, mostly still in development.

Storage · Electrochemical · No. 70

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Storage · Electrochemical · Foundation · Energy

A lithium-sulphur cell could in theory store about 2,600 Wh per kilogram, over eight times today's best mass-produced batteries.

Chart: Illustration: Next-generation lithium batteries

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

These cells swap the liquid electrolyte for a solid, or use sulphur or oxygen as the cathode; lithium-air could reach up to 1,200 Wh/kg.

Three things to know
  1. Only semi-solid-state cells are on sale today, and they must run warm, at roughly 60 to 90 C, to conduct.
  2. A lithium-air lab cell managed at least 1,000 cycles in 2023, but cycle life is still the main barrier.
  3. The target keeps moving: average lithium-ion packs fell to USD 108/kWh in 2025, with LFP at USD 81/kWh.
The journey
  1. 1 Lab chemistrySolid electrolytes, sulphur or air cathodes
  2. 2 Prototype cellsPouch cells near 450-500 Wh/kg
  3. 3 Pilot plantsLyten plans 10 GWh in Nevada
  4. 4 Premium carsToyota and BYD target 2027-2028
  5. 5 Later marketsRobots, drones, perhaps electric aircraft
Covered in Storing energy: from fuel stocks to batteriesEnergy
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