ION Storage Systems, a Maryland-based pioneer in solid-state battery (SSB) technology, has achieved a significant breakthrough with its battery cell demonstrating a 25-time increase in capacity in a commercially relevant footprint while surpassing 1,000 charge cycles.
Learn more about ION’s SSB technology in this video.
This dual achievement marks a critical milestone in the company’s path to commercialization, validating the performance and durability needed for various applications, particularly significant as ION’s cells cycle without compression or volume change, overcoming a key barrier to commercial SSB adoption.
In 2024, ION commissioned a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, one of the largest in the United States, and received a $20 million award from ARPA-E to support the continued development of its SSBs.
ION’s next-generation battery cells are engineered to provide safer, longer-lasting, and more efficient energy solutions tailored to the demanding requirements of electric vehicles (EVs), defense, grid storage, and other sectors. The company is now leveraging this momentum to advance the development of multi-layer cells at its Beltsville, MD, facility.
Highlights:
- Breakthrough performance: A 25-time capacity increase over previous cell designs, demonstrating cell footprints up to 40mm x 40mm, with the capability of going larger.
- Proven durability: Achievement of 1,000+ cycles in this larger format validates the technology for commercial applications. Cycling was performed at a rate of C/3 at room temperature and without compression, with cells maintaining greater than 80% capacity retention. This demonstrates critical capabilities for integration into customer products and builds on our smaller cell work, which has reached over 2000 cycles.
- Manufacturing innovation: New 30,000-square-foot facility positioned for rapid scaling to multi-layer cell production.
- Supply chain security: Strategic partnerships with suppliers like Saint-Gobain Ceramics ensure reliable material access
ION’s innovative technology enhances capacity and cycle life, overcoming key challenges. ION’s ceramic-based cells eliminate the need for compression during cycling, a crucial advantage in space-constrained devices.
With the ability to achieve 1,000+ cycles, ION’s technology offers a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News