Chinese scientists have developed a revolutionary battery that charges in three minutes
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have announced a breakthrough in battery technology, unveiling a new solid-state lithium-metal battery that charges ultra-fast and offers a high level of safety.
The results of this work were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
The new development demonstrates an energy density of 451.5 Wh/kg, which is more than double that of modern commercial lithium-iron-phosphate batteries used in electric vehicles.
The battery’s key feature is its ability to fully charge and discharge in just three minutes. During laboratory testing, the battery demonstrated high operational stability—after 700 charge-discharge cycles, it retained 81.9% of its initial capacity.
In addition, the average coulombic efficiency of lithium deposition and dissolution processes reached 99.1% over 1,400 cycles, demonstrating the technology’s efficiency and durability.
The scientists explained that the key to success was the modernization of polymer electrolytes based on polyvinylidene fluoride. To address the issue of side reactions, which typically damage the electrodes, the Chinese engineers employed a method of “plasticization using a compatibilizing solvent.”
The main plasticizer was sulfolane, which helped stabilize the structure of the polymer network and prevent short circuits and material degradation.
The specialists also tested the battery in a flexible “pouch” type casing with an ultra-thin lithium-metal anode. The battery successfully passed a nail penetration test, confirming a high level of internal safety.
Scientists believe that the technology paves the way for mass production of a new generation of safe and ultra-fast batteries.
According to preliminary data, Chinese companies plan to bring similar commercial systems to market as early as 2026–2027.
Earlier, the global leader in battery production, the Chinese company CATL, presented a new generation of its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery—the Shenxing 3rd Gen—at the “2026 Super Tech Day” event.
Chinese automaker BYD unveiled a new version of its Blade Battery 2.0 at a presentation in Shenzhen (Guangdong Province), which can be charged from 10% to 70% in just five minutes, and to 97% in nine minutes. This is an important step toward reducing “range anxiety” among electric vehicle drivers.
