According to industry reports, Samsung SDI, the battery arm of Samsung Group, is considering selling its 15.2% stake in Samsung Display. That stake is currently valued at around 10 trillion won (roughly $6.9 billion) based on book value, a sizeable asset that could free up serious capital if divested.

While no final decision has been announced, the move appears tied to Samsung SDI’s push into next-generation battery technologies, particularly all-solid-state batteries.

Samsung SDI hasn’t had an easy run lately. The slowdown in global EV demand has pressured battery makers across the board, and recent quarters have reportedly seen heavy operating losses. Rather than simply cutting costs, Samsung seems to be reshuffling resources. Selling a non-core stake could provide funding for expansion in areas that are still seeing strong growth — especially energy storage systems (ESS), which are benefiting from rising demand from AI-driven data centers.

At the same time, Samsung SDI is investing in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to stay competitive in lower-cost segments, while continuing aggressive R&D into more advanced chemistries.

The bigger goal: solid-state batteries

Unlike conventional lithium-ion cells, solid-state batteries replace flammable liquid electrolytes with solid materials. In theory, that brings higher energy density, improved safety, longer lifespan, and potentially faster charging, all major advantages for electric vehicles and large-scale storage.

Samsung SDI has already established pilot production lines and is reportedly working with partners such as BMW and Solid Power on validation and supply development.

A company representative stated that any potential stake sale would go through internal review, including evaluation by the Sustainability Management Committee before final board approval. Details such as timing, structure, and potential buyers have not yet been finalized.

Speculation suggests the stake could be sold internally within the Samsung Group or to a strategic investor, but for now, nothing is confirmed.

What’s clear is the broader strategy: focus capital on batteries. As next-generation technologies approach commercialization, scale and funding matter more than ever. If Samsung successfully channels billions into solid-state development and ESS expansion, it could strengthen its position in a market that’s rapidly evolving.

Solid-state batteries have been “five years away” for what feels like a decade. But with giants like Samsung accelerating investment, the timeline may finally be tightening.

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TDK Corporation is a Japanese company that manufactures, distributes, and sells electronic components and devices. It is the world’s leading electronic components and devices company that has high magnetics technology. This company became the first component manufacturer in India for iPhone batteries towards the end of last year.

Now the news is that TDK Corporation has managed to develop a a material for solid-state batteries with 100 times higher energy density.

Nearly 100 times greater energy density than TDK’s conventional solid-state batteries

A higher energy density means more energy storage within less space inside a device. So, in theory, it may offer significantly longer battery life to compact battery-powered devices like smartphones and wearable products like TWS earbuds, smartwatches, and smart rings.

We are talking about a new solid-state battery technology that will offer an energy density of 1,000 Wh/L, which is nearly 100 times greater than the energy density of TDK’s conventional solid-state battery.

TDK has managed to develop a material for the new solid-state battery with a significantly higher energy density than TDK’s conventional mass-produced solid-state batteries (Type: CeraCharge). It has reportedly been possible due to the use of oxide-based solid electrolyte and lithium alloy anodes. The company aims to enhance the capacity of the batteries through multi-layer lamination technology and expand its operating temperature range with the help of the production engineering technology they have accumulated in the electronic components business.

According to the company, the new high-energy density solid-state batteries will also be safe to use. The use of oxide-based solid electrolytes is something that makes the new batteries “extremely safe”. The company mainly focuses on applying its new high-density batteries in compact wearable devices. Notably, the company also intends to replace the traditional coin cell primary batteries, which you cannot recharge. This will also comply with the EU battery regulations, which require rechargeable batteries. So, we can also expect TDK’s new solid-state battery technology to contribute to the reduction of environmental impact.

The company is committed to beginning the mass production of the battery cell and packaging structure as early as possible. However, the company didn’t share an exact timeline related to the development.

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Researchers at the prestigious Harvard University may have achieved a breakthrough in their research on solid-state battery technology. The research findings have been published in the latest edition of Nature Materials and point to how a solid-state battery can be developed to fully recharge within 10 minutes.

The lithium metal battery researchers are at Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). The lead writer in the Nature Materials published article is Xin Li, an Associate Professor of Materials Science at SEAS. The newly developed battery has an estimated charging cycle of 6,000 times, more than any other pouch battery cell.

According to the researchers, Lithium metal anode batteries are considered the top-draw choice of batteries because they have ten times the capacity of commercial graphite anodes and could drastically increase the driving distance of EVs. The researchers say that their research findings mark an important step toward more practical solid-state batteries with great ramifications for industrial and commercial applications.

Electric Vehicles may be getting faster charging batteries shortly

The formation of dendrites on the surface of the anode is a major challenge in the development of solid-state batteries. These can build up on the lithium surface and grow like roots into the electrolyte. Their growth helps to damage the barrier that separates the anode and cathode, resulting in short-circuiting or possibly fires. The research team designed a multilayer battery that sandwiched different materials of varying stabilities between the anode and cathode. This 2021 design prevented the penetration of lithium dendrites although it didn’t stop their growth altogether.

The breakthrough by the Harvard research team is that they successfully prevented dendrites from forming by using micron-sized silicon particles in the anode to constrict the reaction to a shallow surface without penetrating any further. The lithium metal gets wrapped around the silicon particle, like a hard chocolate shell around a hazelnut core, according to lead author Li. Because plating and stripping can occur rapidly on an even surface, the developed battery can recharge fully in about 10 minutes.

The developed battery cell retained 80% of its capacity after 6,000 cycles which was far better than that of any pouch cell battery in the market. The tech has been licensed to Adden Energy by the Harvard Office of Technology Development. Adden Energy is an offshoot of research efforts at Harvard and was co-founded by Xin Li and three others – all Harvard alumni. The tech is being scaled up to build smartphone batteries that are much bigger than the pouch cell battery. There are still challenges in the evolution of the ultimate solid-state battery before it becomes a commercial product. Mass production of such tech offers its dynamic challenges.

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