News

3 September 2026 Industrial development

Samsung SDI clarifies the directions of SolidStack development

The company described anode-free solid-state batteries in prismatic format for electric vehicles and pouch format for robots. For SilverEV, this continues the story that began with Samsung researchers' Ag–C architecture in 2020. However, the September announcement does not disclose the coating's composition: the presence and loading of silver in future production cells remain unconfirmed.

Samsung SDI Ag–C research, 2020

24 August 2026 Research

Silver and zinc nitride combined in a protective current-collector coating

In a bilayer Zn₃N₂–Ag coating, silver provides sites for uniform lithium deposition, while the outer layer reacts with lithium to form a protective Li₃N-containing interphase. A laboratory anode-free cell with a LiFePO₄ cathode retained 88.2% capacity after 100 cycles at 0.5 C. The work shows how surface protection can complement silver's function.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

25 July 2026 Research

A silver-containing additive builds an interface inside the battery

HKUST researchers introduced a multifunctional Ag⁺-containing electrolyte additive. It contributes to formation of a polymer environment and deposits silver on the current collector, facilitating subsequent lithium plating. For a roughly 2 Ah quasi-solid-state pouch prototype, the authors reported 467 Wh/kg based on total cell mass. Silver helps create the working electrode–electrolyte interface during cell formation.

Nature Communications HKUST account

21 July 2026 Research

A thin silver film on carbon simplifies the Ag–C interlayer

Oxford researchers studied a 100 nm silver layer over a carbon coating on a copper current collector. It eased lithium nucleation and produced denser metal deposits, but voids and lithium losses remained during stripping. Both findings matter: a thin coating is possible, yet Ag alone does not solve every cycle-life problem.

ACS Applied Energy Materials

3 April 2026 NASA research

A silver–graphene interlayer made without solvents or binders

A team including NASA proposed dry pressing an interlayer of silver and holey graphene (Ag-hG). The layer is designed to support more uniform lithium deposition and solid-state cell operation at low stack pressure. For SilverEV, this moves the discussion from choosing a silver-containing material to manufacturing a battery.

ACS Applied Energy Materials

12 March 2026 Research

A lithium–silver alloy becomes part of corrosion protection

The authors developed a two-part protective structure for a lithium electrode, combining a polymer component with a Li–Ag and lithium-fluoride-based interphase. The aim is to limit corrosion losses while maintaining lithium transport across the surface. This extends silver's role beyond managing deposition during charging to addressing degradation during storage.

Nature Communications

16 January 2026 Research

Stanford uses silver to strengthen a ceramic electrolyte

After treatment of an ultrathin silver coating, Ag⁺ ions entered the LLZO surface and increased resistance to cracking. Here silver protects the electrolyte itself, reducing opportunities for lithium to enter defects. The result was obtained on small material samples; the durability of complete batteries still needs testing.

Stanford Nature Materials

1 July 2025 Research

Silver emerges from the electrolyte to seed lithium growth

An anode-free solid-state battery used a silver-doped sulfide electrolyte layer. During charging, Ag nanoparticles emerge and guide more uniform lithium deposition. The authors demonstrated a pouch cell operating at 2 MPa stack pressure. This offers another way to incorporate silver beyond a preformed Ag–C coating.

Nature Communications

26 June 2025 Research

Silver's location within the Ag–C layer proves crucial

Oxford researchers produced a bilayer coating with more silver near the current collector and more carbon near the solid electrolyte. Compared with a conventional Ag–C mixture, it produced more uniform lithium deposition and improved cycling. Assessing the technology requires attention to silver's distribution through the layer as well as its overall composition.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

27 April 2024 Research

An Ag–C layer and nanotubes reduce anode volume changes

In a quasi-solid-state cell, a silver–carbon layer directed lithium into the free volume of a titanium nitride nanotube array. This reduced mechanical stress during charging and discharging; a laboratory full cell operated for more than 600 cycles at room temperature. The work connects silver's control of lithium deposition with the challenge of electrode expansion.

Nature Communications

24 February 2023 Research

Oxford tracks the Ag–C interlayer during cell operation

Using operando X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, researchers examined changes in a silver–graphite interlayer during charging and discharging. The work provides a basis for understanding the structure and evolution of this interface, helping move from an individual successful prototype towards a reproducible Ag–C electrode design.

Joule Oxford account

29 July 2022 Research

Ag and LiF layers divide the tasks of lithium-anode protection

In a solid-state battery, silver improved contact between lithium and the ceramic electrolyte, while lithium fluoride limited electron leakage into the electrolyte. Together, the layers helped suppress dendrite growth. The result illustrates why a silver-containing interface needs to be designed alongside an electronically insulating protective component.

Science Advances

November 2021 Research · journal issue

Silver nanoparticles and polymer protection improve an anode-free cell

Researchers combined Ag nanoparticles enclosed in polydopamine with a separate protective film on a copper current collector. Silver facilitated lithium nucleation, while the film reduced unwanted electrolyte reactions. The study extended silver nucleation sites in anode-free lithium-metal batteries beyond Samsung's original solid-state configuration.

Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers

7 December 2020 Laboratory prototype

UC San Diego and ZPower demonstrate a flexible AgO–Zn battery

Researchers created a rechargeable printed battery with a silver-oxide cathode and a zinc anode. The prototype remained operational when bent and completed more than 80 cycles without significant capacity loss. Intended for flexible electronics and soft robotics, this design uses silver as an active cathode material.

UC San Diego

9 March 2020 Laboratory prototype

Samsung demonstrates a solid-state cell with a silver–carbon layer

Samsung researchers used a thin Ag–C layer to manage lithium deposition in a sulfide solid-state battery without excess lithium metal. A 0.6 Ah pouch prototype achieved more than 900 Wh/L and 1,000 cycles. This became one of the starting points for renewed interest in silver as a functional component of future traction batteries.

Nature Energy