Media mention: 'Researchers discover groundbreaking process that could unleash futuristic batteries'
May 21, 2025
Where: The Cool Down, “Researchers discover groundbreaking process that could unleash futuristic batteries”
Who: Penn State researchers, led by Hongtao Sun, assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering
What: A recent article from The Cool Down features research from Penn State that could revolutionize battery technology through a novel low-temperature manufacturing method known as cold sintering. This process enables the creation of high-performance solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) at just 300 degrees — drastically lower than the 1,900 degrees required by traditional sintering methods.
By using a ceramic-polymer composite SSE called LATP-PILG, the team demonstrated a material with high ionic conductivity at room temperature, addressing a major barrier to scalable solid-state battery production. Penn State’s cold sintering approach significantly lowers thermal energy demands, paving the way for more sustainable, cost-effective and scalable battery manufacturing. According to Sun, the team’s long-term vision is to build a fully sustainable system capable of large-scale production and recyclability, supporting the transition to cleaner energy technologies.
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