Can solid-state batteries actually reduce climate impact compared to today's lithium-ion batteries?
Not necessarily—it depends heavily on the chemistry. A 2025 prospective life-cycle assessment found that one promising solid-state design, using an NMC811 cathode with an LLZO ceramic electrolyte, is likely to have a higher climate impact than current lithium-ion batteries [1]. That's because producing the electrolyte and cathode materials is energy-intensive. However, a different design using an LFP cathode with a polymer electrolyte could achieve a climate impact comparable to today's lithium-ion LFP batteries, but only if the amount of non-cathode materials (like the electrolyte and current collector) is minimized [1]. The same study also flagged that the availability of lanthanum, a key element in the LLZO electrolyte, could limit scaling of that design [1].
So the climate benefit is not automatic—it depends on which materials are used and how efficiently the battery is built. The polymer-based design looks more promising from a climate perspective, but it still needs to overcome other hurdles.
What are the biggest engineering problems that still block practical use?
Two major problems stand out: lithium dendrites and mechanical degradation. A 2023 Nature study showed that lithium dendrites—tiny metal filaments that grow during charging—can penetrate the ceramic electrolyte, causing short circuits and battery failure [4]. The study revealed that dendrite initiation and propagation are separate processes: initiation happens when lithium fills tiny pores inside the ceramic, building pressure until cracks form, while propagation occurs when lithium drives the crack open from behind [4]. Lower stack pressure (the force squeezing the battery layers together) actually slows propagation and extends battery life, but this creates a design trade-off [4].
Another 2023 study found that cathode materials that expand and contract during cycling (like Nb₂O₅, which expands by 4%) cause cracking and loss of contact between particles, especially at low stack pressures [3]. This mechanical degradation reduces battery capacity and lifespan. The study showed that materials with negligible volume change (like LTO) performed well regardless of pressure, suggesting that future solid-state batteries may need low-volume-change cathode materials or special buffer layers to work reliably [3].
When could solid-state batteries realistically have a climate impact?
The 2025 life-cycle assessment modeled scenarios for 2025, 2030, 2040, and 2050, and found that even by 2030, the climate impact of solid-state batteries will depend on major advances in manufacturing efficiency and material choices [1]. The same study noted that lanthanum availability could constrain the LLZO-based design [1]. Meanwhile, research on halide solid electrolytes (a different class of materials) shows promise: a 2023 study demonstrated a halide nanocomposite that achieved high ionic conductivity (1.3 mS/cm for lithium ions) and lasted nearly 2,000 cycles in a lab cell [2]. But that test was done at a very high stack pressure of 70 MPa—far above what is practical in a real electric vehicle [2]. A 2022 review of halide electrolytes highlighted that cost, air stability, and compatibility with large-format manufacturing (like slurry processing) are still unresolved [5].
Taken together, the evidence suggests that solid-state batteries are unlikely to have a meaningful climate impact before the mid-2030s at the earliest, and only if key materials and manufacturing challenges are solved.
About These Sources
This answer is built on 5 peer-reviewed studies — published from 2022 to 2025, 1 from 2024 or later, 5 in Q1 journals, collectively cited 996 times — selected as the most relevant from 5 studies that passed quality screening, drawn from 59 papers retrieved from a database of over 500 million.
Sources used in this answer
Future climate impact of all-solid-state batteries
A 2025 prospective life-cycle assessment found that ASSB NMC811 with LLZO electrolyte likely has a higher climate impact than lithium-ion batteries, while ASSB LFP with polymer electrolyte could match lithium-ion LFP if non-cathode materials are minimized; lanthanum availability may limit LLZO scaling.
Boosting the interfacial superionic conduction of halide solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries
A 2023 study demonstrated a halide nanocomposite solid electrolyte with improved ionic conductivity (1.3 mS/cm for Li⁺) and a lab-scale cell that delivered 115 mAh/g after nearly 2,000 cycles at 30°C and 70 MPa stack pressure.
The effect of volume change and stack pressure on solid‐state battery cathodes
A 2023 study showed that cathode volume changes during cycling cause mechanical degradation in solid-state batteries; materials with negligible volume change (LTO) performed well at low pressure, while Nb₂O₅ (4% expansion) required >2 MPa stack pressure to avoid cracking.
Dendrite initiation and propagation in lithium metal solid-state batteries
A 2023 Nature study revealed that lithium dendrite initiation and propagation in solid-state batteries are separate processes; initiation depends on pore size and current density, while propagation depends on fracture toughness and stack pressure—lower pressure suppresses propagation.
Emerging Halide Superionic Conductors for All-Solid-State Batteries: Design, Synthesis, and Practical Applications
A 2022 review of halide solid electrolytes highlighted their high conductivity and stability but noted unresolved challenges including cost, air stability, and compatibility with large-format manufacturing processes.