The rapid expansion of lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems escalates a demand for batteries with higher energy density and enhanced safety. However, conventional lithium-ion batteries employing liquid electrolytes are increasingly constrained due to their limited electrochemical stability, susceptibility to leakage, and lithium dendrite formation, which pose risks of short circuits and thermal runaway. Solid-state batteries (SSBs) with solid electrolytes present a promising solution to these challenges, offering a potential for higher safety and energy density.Recent advancements in SSBs include the development of solid electrolytes with a high ionic conductivity, solid–solid interface optimization, and composite electrode design. Nonetheless, some issues such as lithium-ion transport barriers across phases, interfacial impedance, and the performance limitations of thick electrodes continue to impede the commercial viability of SSBs. To address these multifaceted challenges, a concept of "lithium-ion transport throughput" is proposed as a comprehensive descriptor for evaluating SSB performance. This descriptor quantifies the quantity of lithium ions transported across the electrode/electrolyte interface per unit area over time, considering some factors such as areal capacity and charge/discharge rates.This review systematically examines strategies to enhance lithium-ion transport throughput from three key perspectives, i.e., bulk ionic transport in solid electrolytes, electrode/electrolyte interface design, and synergistic ionic/electronic transport networks within electrodes. we aim to offer insights into improving the overall performance of SSBs to meet the demands for high safety and energy density in next-generation energy storage systems via integrating materials design with structural optimization. In addition, we also conduct quantitative calculations to analyze lithium-ion transport throughput in recently published high-performance SSBs, providing a detailed comparison of various systems. We illustrate how material advancements and interface designs affect overall performance via compiling representative data (i.e., areal capacity, charge/discharge rates, and resulting throughput values). These calculations highlight trends and identify strategies that can achieve significant throughput improvements, offering a robust foundation for future optimization efforts.Summary and ProspectsThe introduction of lithium-ion transport throughput offers a novel and integrated approach to assess the charging and discharging capabilities of SSBs. Lithium-ion transport throughput provides a holistic understanding of the electrochemical processes within SSBs via considering both areal capacity and current density, bridging a gap between theoretical performance and practical application. Future studies should focus on refining this descriptor and employing it as a standard for evaluating SSB performance across various material systems.The ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes remains a key property of SSB performance. Recent advancements, such as high-entropy doping, amorphous structures, and vacancy engineering, achieve significant improvements in ionic transport. For instance, high-entropy sulfide electrolytes exhibit ionic conductivities, compared to liquid electrolytes. The development of halide electrolytes shows their high voltage stability and ionic conductivities.Interface impedance is a critical barrier in SSBs. Conventional solid–solid contacts restrict ionic transport efficiency. Innovations such as mixed-conductive interlayers, magnetron sputtering techniques, and porous or functionalized interface layers demonstrate effectiveness in reducing interface resistance and enhancing long-term stability. Future research should emphasize scalable techniques for interface engineering to ensure compatibility with large-scale production.High-loading electrode designs are essential for improving energy density, but often face ionic and electronic transport challenges. Constructing electronic and ion dual-transport networks within electrodes has a potential to address these issues. Some strategies such as integrating conductive nanomaterials and designing vertically aligned structures can optimize the utilization of active materials and improve high-rate performance. The integration of lithium alloy layers in anodes also offers an approach to enhance lithium-ion transport and address volume change issues during cycling.The development of solid-state batteries (SSBs) requires a multidisciplinary approach that combines materials science, interface engineering, and structural design. One key research priority is material innovation, which involves developing solid electrolytes with higher ionic conductivities and lower costs. Another priority is to achieve long-term stability and low impedance at solid-solid interfaces, which can be accomplished through techniques such as surface coating, interfacial buffer layers, and in-situ formation of interfacial layers. Structural optimization is also crucial, as it involves designing thick electrode architectures with optimized ionic and electronic transport pathways. Finally, system-level integration is essential, as it requires attention to thermal management, mechanical integrity, and scalability. Collaborative efforts between academia and industry are vital to accelerate the transition from laboratory-scale innovations to commercial products.SSBs can overcome current limitations and be widely used in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage via addressing the challenges above. The ongoing development of SSB technology is crucial for promoting energy sustainability and reaching global carbon neutrality goals.