Gangfeng Lithium has commenced mass production of its new solid-liquid hybrid batteries, achieving an energy density of 650 Wh/kg through the use of a specialized lithium alloy. The company, a long-time supplier to automakers including Changan and Hyundai, also reports that it is in the sample production phase for all-solid-state battery packs featuring similar lithium alloy anodes.
Founded in China in 2000 as a manufacturer of lithium salts and batteries, Gangfeng Lithium expanded into passenger electric-vehicle battery supply in 2017. The firm signed a memorandum of understanding with Changan Automobile in 2023, followed by a similar agreement with Hyundai in 2024. These partnerships reflect growing demand for higher-performance battery technologies.
The newly commercialized solid-liquid battery utilizes advanced positive and negative electrode materials, coupled with a lithium metal anode engineered for low potential and high capacity. By introducing a multi-element lithium alloy, Gangfeng Lithium has addressed common industry challenges such as dendrite formation and limited cycle life. The alloy framework serves to maintain stable contact between the electrode and electrolyte, suppressing dendrite growth and enhancing safety.
Technical benchmarks for the hybrid cells include a critical current density of 50 mA/cm² and an areal capacity of 1 mAh/cm², supporting 3C fast-charging rates. A “zero-strain” lithium alloy anode paired with a sulfur cathode undergoes just 3–5% volume expansion during charge and discharge. In safety tests, the cells passed high-penetration and heating trials up to 250 °C, with exothermic reactions more than 90% lower than those of pure lithium.
While these solid-liquid-state packs are currently deployed in non-automotive sectors, Gangfeng Lithium anticipates that lessons learned will accelerate development of its all-solid-state batteries. The company has advanced to sample production of solid-state cells featuring the same lithium alloy anodes and aims to bring these higher-density, more stable batteries to future battery-electric vehicles.
Source: CarNewsChina
