In today's landscape of intense focus on solid-state batteries, the industry is inundated with announcements and updates. However, few companies present a comprehensive picture of their technical roadmap, product planning, and manufacturing processes quite like Fu Neng Technology. Recently, their disclosed investor relations activity record has shed light on their ambitious multi-electrolyte strategy in the solid-state battery sector.

According to the record, Fu Neng is making significant strides in both semi-solid and solid-state battery products. They adhere closely to a development strategy characterized by “generation one in mass production, generation two under development, and generation three in pre-research.” This approach has seen the energy density of three semi-solid batteries soar from 280 Wh/kg to an impressive 400 Wh/kg. Among their solid-state offerings, a sulfide-based battery exceeding 400 Wh/kg has entered the industrial development stage, while an oxide/polymer system with a lithium metal anode and a high nickel cathode is projected to achieve an astounding 500 Wh/kg energy density.

The challenges of developing solid-state batteries come into sharp focus when assessing Fu Neng’s product roadmap. For semi-solid batteries, increased solidification of the electrolyte necessitates resolving a variety of issues with each generation. For instance, the shift from the gel solidification technology in the first generation to the novel oxide/polymer solid electrolyte in the second generation called for advancements in coating and densification techniques. As they progress to the third generation, the introduction of high-conductivity solid electrolytes requires addressing solidification on material surfaces and inhibiting anode expansion.

These challenges elucidate why mass production of solid-state batteries is still on the horizon. Yet, pivoting perspectives reveals that while Fu Neng is innovating its technical path and product iterations, the introduction of their newly developed Super Pouch Solution (SPS) has laid a foundational industrial layout for solid-state battery commercialization.

This dual approach can be likened to two sides of a coin: the “A-side” of research and development marries the “B-side” of commercialization to create a complete solid-state battery solution.

Often in discussions about which solid-state battery technology will achieve viability first, the complexities of industrialization are underappreciated. It’s crucial to remember that the mass manufacturing of liquid lithium-ion batteries has taken over a decade to reach its current level. Even today, only a handful of manufacturers can produce high-nickel ternary batteries at scale.

Reflecting on Fu Neng's SPS, its core innovation lies in the direct integration of large-format soft-pack prismatic cells within system chassis. This direct integration has allowed soft-pack power batteries to undergo significant enhancements in efficiency while large-format prismatic cells can be seen as preparatory exercises for mass production in solid-state battery technology.

Compared to the uncertainties surrounding technological routes, the combination of soft-pack encapsulation and prismatic stacking is already recognized as more suited for solid-state battery applications within the industry. On one hand, various solid electrolytes generally possess poor mechanical properties, making stacking a necessary technique to prevent cracking or delaminating during manufacturing. On the other hand, the flexibility of aluminum-plastic films surpasses that of metal casings, accommodating the overall expansion and contraction of lithium ions during migration, thus allowing the cell to “breathe freely” during charge and discharge cycles.

From announcement to delivery, Fu Neng has dedicated two years to building capacity, optimizing processes, and validating products around the SPS framework, with aspirations explicitly directed toward solid-state batteries. As noted in their announcements, “As the solid-state battery systems mature and industrialization advances, our production bases can swiftly upgrade to accommodate solid-state battery capabilities, offering significant advantages in production cycle time. Our technological moat encompasses existing equipment and processes, like soft-pack and prismatic stacking techniques, allowing for seamless application in solid-state battery technology.”