Commercialization Begins for Next-Generation All-Solid-State Battery Technology with No Explosions and Superior Performance

KRICT and Private Companies Sign Technology Transfer Agreement for Next-Generation All-Solid-State Polymer Batteries

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The next-generation all-solid-state battery technology, developed by domestic researchers, which is free from fire and explosion risks and is stable, has entered the full-scale commercialization phase.

On the afternoon of the 25th, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology signed a technology transfer contract for the next-generation all-solid-state polymer battery technology it developed with a private company. Previously, Dr. Young-Koo Kang, Jeong-Don Seok, and Dong-Wook Kim's research team at the Chemical Research Institute succeeded in developing an 'all-solid-state polymer battery' by applying polymer solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and flexibility that overcome the limitations of existing solid electrolytes, along with composite electrode technology that offers excellent interfacial stability and electrochemical stability.

All-solid-state batteries are emerging as a promising next-generation battery candidate in the situation where electric vehicles are becoming mainstream. The global sales volume of eco-friendly electric vehicles is expected to exceed 16.9 million units by 2025. However, in the case of existing 'lithium-ion batteries,' the electrolyte is in a liquid state, which can become unstable due to temperature changes or external shocks, posing a fire risk. Additionally, there are limitations in charging speed and capacity, which hinder the commercialization of electric vehicles.

'All-solid-state batteries' consist entirely of solid components, including the electrolyte, and are attracting attention as highly stable next-generation batteries with the advantage of preventing fire and explosion. Among solid electrolytes, 'polymer solid electrolytes' are considered the core electrolyte of all-solid-state batteries due to several advantages such as safety from ignition and explosion, economic feasibility, ease of processing, and applicability to flexible devices.

However, existing 'polymer solid electrolytes' have low lithium-ion conductivity at room temperature and difficulty in forming stable interfaces with electrodes, which causes performance degradation in secondary batteries and has been an obstacle to the commercialization of all-solid-state polymer batteries.

The research team developed a 'high-stability all-solid-state polymer battery technology' by structurally controlling the molecules of the polymer solid electrolyte to improve lithium-ion conductivity and securing interfacial stabilization technology through composite electrode design. It was designed so that ion-conductive polymer plasticizers are interconnected in a kind of network form (cross-linked structure). It has excellent lithium-ion conductivity and flexibility and can be synthesized in large quantities. To minimize ion transfer resistance at the electrode-electrolyte interface, which is one of the factors that degrade the performance of all-solid-state batteries, and to realize a stable battery, they also developed a composite electrode in which the ion-conductive binder and electrode active materials are organically integrated.

The research team plans to play a leading role in the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries by solving the manufacturing process problems of existing all-solid-state battery technology through joint research with this private company in the future.

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