Opening the Path to Low-Cost Mass Production of the 'Dream All-Solid-State Battery'

Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute Develops All-Solid-State Battery Technology
Produces High-Performance Batteries at One-Tenth the Cost
Mass Production Possible with Existing Lithium-Ion Battery Facilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A technology enabling mass production of solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries, considered the next-generation battery in the electric vehicle sector, at one-tenth the cost has been developed by a domestic research team. It is expected to accelerate the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries that will replace lithium-ion batteries.

Dr. Junwoo Park’s research team at the Next-Generation Battery Research Center of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) announced that they have developed a special wet synthesis method capable of manufacturing solid electrolytes, a core component of all-solid-state batteries, at about 10% of the existing cost, along with a 'solid electrolyte optimal impregnation technology' that enables mass production of all-solid-state batteries. The research paper was recently published in Scientific Reports.

Mass Production of All-Solid-State Batteries at Low Cost

The research team developed a special wet synthesis method that can produce high-performance solid electrolytes using low-purity, inexpensive raw materials. By adding optimal additives for synthesis, this technology combines the advantages of wet synthesis, which allows mass production of solid electrolytes, and dry synthesis, which produces solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity. Notably, it can mass-produce high-performance solid electrolytes even from raw materials costing one-tenth that of high-purity materials.

Additionally, the team developed a 'solid electrolyte optimal impregnation technology' that enables large-area production and cost reduction of cathodes (+) for all-solid-state batteries. This technology allows uniform dispersion of solid electrolytes in the cathode. As a result, even with a low ratio of solid electrolyte, the active material content can be increased, enabling the production of cathodes for all-solid-state batteries with high energy density. The cathode is one of the key components that determine the battery’s capacity.

In particular, this technology allows the use of existing production lines, which were used to manufacture liquid electrolyte-based lithium-ion battery cathodes, almost as they are to produce all-solid-state batteries.

All-solid-state batteries replace the 'electrolyte' that transfers ions between the cathode and anode from the conventional flammable liquid to a solid. They have no fire risk and do not require separators to prevent temperature changes or external shocks. They are called 'dream batteries' due to their potential for high capacity, miniaturization, and diverse form factors.

Technology Commercialization for All-Solid-State Battery Commercialization Begins

Dr. Junwoo Park introduced, "The special wet synthesis method is a revolutionary manufacturing technology that can produce solid electrolytes with high yield without expensive raw materials or complex high-energy processes, and the impregnation technology is an optimal process technology that allows companies to mass-produce all-solid-state batteries easily and simply by utilizing existing production lines without incurring high costs."

Lee Sangmin, the center director and research lead, stated, "The synthesis method for low-cost solid electrolyte materials, which are the most critical component of all-solid-state batteries, has been developed, enabling the advancement of their realization timeline. We also expect it to greatly contribute to the successful execution of the Ministry of Industry’s project on performance enhancement and manufacturing technology development for next-generation lithium-based secondary batteries."

The research team expects this achievement to be applied in various fields requiring large-scale and mass production of all-solid-state batteries, such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS), and is promoting technology commercialization. The team completed the original patent application for the technology last year and plans to identify demand companies to proceed with the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.