A Kennesaw State University research team has developed a new approach to solid-state battery design that aims to improve both safety and performance. Led by Beibei Jiang, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the group is working on a sulfur-modified solid electrolyte for batteries.
“Our goal is to replace all those flammable components, so the battery becomes much safer,” Jiang said. “By removing the liquid electrolyte and redesigning the solid materials inside the battery, we can reduce the risk of overheating, short circuits, and fires while also improving performance.”
Solid-state batteries use a solid material instead of a flammable liquid electrolyte to separate electrodes and enable lithium ion movement during charging and discharging. While this design enhances safety, it can slow down ion movement and limit charging speed.
Jiang’s team addressed this challenge by introducing sulfur-based chemical groups into a composite solid electrolyte made from ceramic and polymer materials. According to Jiang, “The lithium ions are like cars on a highway. Our sulfur modification is like smoothing that highway so lithium ions can move faster, which means the battery can charge faster and perform better.”
The researchers also identified what they describe as a previously undocumented strong interaction between sulfur and zirconium in the ceramic part of the electrolyte. “We are the first group proposing this strong interaction between sulfur and zirconium,” Jiang said. “We believe that this interaction is the main reason for the improved performance we are seeing.”
The discovery began when students observed an unexpectedly rapid reaction during early experiments. “It was almost accidental,” Jiang said. “The reaction happened in just a few seconds and quickly got out of control. Instead of ignoring it, we asked why it was happening so fast and whether we could slow it down and make it controllable. That led us to this new design strategy.”
Lawrence Whitman, dean of Kennesaw State’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, commented on how Jiang’s work fits with broader research goals: “Dr. Jiang’s research addresses one of the most pressing challenges in energy storage today,” Whitman said. “By improving both safety and performance, her team is helping move solid-state battery technology closer to real-world application.”
The project has received $200,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation as well as support from Kennesaw State’s Office of Research.
Research activities take place at Kennesaw State’s Marietta Campus laboratory where students participate in synthesizing materials, assembling prototype batteries, and testing them using coin-cell designs.
“Our focus right now is to prove that this design works and that it is stable and reliable,” Jiang said. “Once we can show that, then we can think about scaling and manufacturing.”
Jiang sees applications for their technology in electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems, and consumer electronics.
She encourages students from various engineering backgrounds to participate: “No matter your background, you can contribute,” Jiang said. “The most important thing is to get started and get hands-on experience.”
As demand increases for safer energy storage solutions worldwide, researchers say developments like these could help make solid-state batteries viable alternatives to current lithium-ion technology.
