'One Charge for Round Trip Seoul-Busan'… LG Energy Solution Develops Lithium Metal Battery with KAIST

Solving Corrosion Issues Caused by Dendrites and Liquid Electrolytes
World's First Application of 'Bongsan-yeom-Piran Based Liquid Electrolyte'
Blocking Corrosion Reactions Between Electrolyte and Lithium Metal Anode

LG Energy Solution and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 7th that they have succeeded in developing technology for the next-generation battery, the 'lithium metal battery,' capable of driving 900 km on a single charge.

The joint research team developed core technologies related to lithium metal batteries that increase driving range by about 50% compared to lithium-ion batteries, while significantly improving charge-discharge efficiency and lifespan. The research paper was published in the world-renowned scientific journal Nature Energy. Lithium metal batteries use lithium metal instead of graphite-based anodes, greatly reducing the weight and volume of the anode compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. This allows for a substantial improvement in energy density and driving range, making it one of the representative next-generation batteries.

To address the dendrite phenomenon and corrosion issues caused by liquid electrolytes in existing lithium metal batteries, the joint research team applied a 'borate-pyran based liquid electrolyte' for the first time in the world. Dendrites refer to sharp, branch-like lithium ion crystals that accumulate on the anode surface during the charging process of lithium-ion batteries. They have been identified as a limiting factor threatening battery lifespan and safety.

The 'borate-pyran based liquid electrolyte' plays a role in blocking corrosion reactions between the electrolyte and the lithium metal anode by densely restructuring the solid electrolyte layer, which is a few nanometers thick, formed on the lithium metal anode surface during charge-discharge. This not only improves the charge-discharge efficiency of lithium metal batteries but also increases the energy density (the amount of energy contained per unit volume or weight) enough to enable driving 900 km on a single charge. This is about 50% higher than the approximately 600 km driving range of lithium-ion batteries used in existing high-performance electric vehicles. It also ensures lifespan stability, allowing for more than 400 recharge cycles. Unlike solid-state batteries, the lithium metal battery realized in this study does not require high temperature and pressure during operation, enabling a simplified battery system design to increase electric vehicle driving range.

Comparison of Lithium Metal Battery Technology Developed by LG Energy Solution and KAIST with Existing Lithium-Ion Batteries and Lithium Metal Batteries [Image Source=LG Energy Solution]

Jung Geun-chang, Vice President and Head of the Future Technology Center at LG Energy Solution, said, "It is significant that we have solved a representative challenge of lithium metal batteries using liquid electrolytes, bringing us one step closer to commercialization." Professor Kim Hee-tak of KAIST's Department of Bio and Chemical Engineering stated, "This research visualizes the possibility of realizing lithium metal batteries based on liquid electrolytes, which were previously considered impossible." Dr. Kwon Hyuk-jin, a first author of the paper and a doctoral candidate, said, "We have proven that the limitations of lithium metal batteries can be overcome through nanoscale control of the lithium metal anode interface."

LG Energy Solution and KAIST established the Frontier Research Laboratory (FRL) in 2021 to develop core technologies related to next-generation lithium metal batteries. In addition to KAIST, LG Energy Solution operates FRL with the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in the United States, the University of M?nster in Germany, and the Helmholtz Institute.

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