Hanyang University Develops 'Cobalt-Free Cathode Material' to Solve Secondary Battery Challenges

Publication in the Energy Journal 'Nature Energy'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] A research team led by Professor Seon Yang-guk of Hanyang University’s Department of Energy Engineering has succeeded in developing a cobalt-free lithium-ion battery (secondary battery) cathode material. The research results were published in Nature Energy, a prestigious journal in the energy field.

According to Hanyang University on the 11th, the research team in the Department of Energy Engineering recently developed a 'cobalt-free cathode material,' which has been considered a major challenge in the secondary battery industry for several years. It is expected that once commercialized, this will significantly improve the stability and performance of secondary batteries while drastically reducing costs.

Cobalt is widely used in advanced industries and is also called "white petroleum." It is regarded as an essential element that ensures stability in battery cathode materials.

To develop a cobalt-free cathode material, the research team analyzed the impact of removing cobalt on the battery. Cathode materials without cobalt are structurally unstable and develop cracks during charging.

To solve the cracking issue, the team created cathode materials composed of "radially aligned rod-shaped grains." Unlike conventional grains, these specially shaped grains reduce pressure caused by volume changes in the cathode material and create pathways that allow lithium ions to diffuse rapidly, thereby resolving the cracking problem.

Additionally, they proposed a "lithium and transition metal alternating layered crystal structure" to address the instability of cobalt-free cathode materials. This enhanced the stability of the crystal structure and effectively replaced the role of cobalt.

Meanwhile, this research was supported with 5.8 billion KRW over 10 years since 2011 through the Energy Workforce Development Project by the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

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