[Solid-State: GEM Co-Founds Joint Laboratory For Solid-State Battery Cathode Materials]

According to EV media outlet Electrek on June 4 local time, Nissan is launching a project to develop “Cost-effective, Resilient Solid-state Li-S” batteries together with UK battery company Gelion, Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) and the University of Oxford. The project will run for three years, with a total budget of around GBP 3.4 million, or about USD 4.5 million. Of this, Gelion will receive around GBP 2.4 million, or about USD 3.2 million, in UK government funding. The key focus of the project is the development of solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries using sulfur-based cathode materials.

Material Prices: Most solid-state battery materials declined. LPSC dropped 5.5% to RMB 7,280/kg, Li₂S fell 3.8% to RMB 1,530/kg, Li metal and LFP fell 1.7% and 1.4% respectively. Only P₂S₅ rose 2.6%. Oxide electrolytes (LATP, LLZO) were flat.

Wu Kai, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief scientist of CATL, said at the 2026 Equipment Power Forum that the company will achieve mass production of a series of sodium-ion battery products this year. Compared with lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries have abundant raw material resources and lower costs. Looking ahead, lithium-air batteries will be CATL's future direction. Wu Kai explained that lithium-air batteries use lithium as the negative electrode and oxygen from the air as the positive electrode reactant, offering ultra-high theoretical energy density and representing the next global battleground for next-generation batteries.