食色视频 State researcher develops safer, faster solid-state battery design
KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 3, 2026
Beibei Jiang, an assistant professor in the , leads a research team developing a sulfur-modified solid electrolyte designed to improve how lithium ions move through solid-state batteries, increasing performance while reducing safety risks.
鈥淥ur goal is to replace all those flammable components, so the battery becomes much safer,鈥� Jiang said. 鈥淏y removing the liquid electrolyte and redesigning the solid materials inside the battery, we can reduce the risk of overheating, short circuits, and fires while also improving performance.鈥�
Solid-state batteries replace the flammable liquid electrolyte with a solid material that separates the battery鈥檚 electrodes and allows lithium ions to move during charging and discharging. While this design improves safety, lithium ions move more slowly through solids, which can limit charging speed.
Jiang鈥檚 team addressed that problem by adding sulfur-based chemical groups to a composite solid electrolyte made of ceramic and polymer components. The sulfur improves bonding between those materials, reducing resistance and allowing lithium ions to move more easily.
鈥淭he lithium ions are like cars on a highway,鈥� Jiang said. 鈥淥ur sulfur modification is like smoothing that highway so lithium ions can move faster, which means the battery can charge faster and perform better.鈥�
The team also discovered a strong interaction between sulfur and zirconium in the ceramic portion of the electrolyte, a finding Jiang鈥檚 group is the first to identify and document.
鈥淲e are the first group proposing this strong interaction between sulfur and zirconium,鈥� Jiang said. 鈥淲e believe that this interaction is the main reason for the improved performance we are seeing.鈥�
The discovery began when students noticed a reaction happening far more quickly than expected during early experiments.
鈥淚t was almost accidental,鈥� Jiang said. 鈥淭he reaction happened in just a few seconds and quickly got out of control. Instead of ignoring it, we asked why it was happening so fast and whether we could slow it down and make it controllable. That led us to this new design strategy.鈥�
Lawrence Whitman, dean of the , said the work reflects the applied focus of the college鈥檚 research.
鈥淒r. Jiang鈥檚 research addresses one of the most pressing challenges in energy storage today,鈥� Whitman said. 鈥淏y improving both safety and performance, her team is helping move solid-state battery technology closer to real-world application.鈥�
The project is supported by a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, along with seed funding from 食色视频 State鈥檚 .
Most of the work takes place in Jiang鈥檚 lab on 食色视频 State鈥檚 Marietta Campus, where students synthesize materials, assemble prototype batteries, and test performance using small coin-cell designs.
鈥淥ur focus right now is to prove that this design works and that it is stable and reliable,鈥� Jiang said. 鈥淥nce we can show that, then we can think about scaling and manufacturing.鈥�
Jiang believes the research has strong potential for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and consumer electronics.
Beyond the technology, she encourages students from a range of engineering backgrounds to get involved.
鈥淣o matter your background, you can contribute,鈥� Jiang said. 鈥淭he most important thing is to get started and get hands-on experience.鈥�
As demand grows for safer and more efficient energy storage, Jiang鈥檚 work represents a promising step toward making solid-state batteries a practical alternative to today鈥檚 lithium-ion technology.
鈥� Story by Raynard Churchwell
Photos by Darnell Wilburn
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 食色视频 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. 食色视频 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 食色视频 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.