Development of Electrolyte Technology Enhancing Lifespan and Safety Paper Published in Leading Global Energy Journal
(From left) Lee Seung-woo, Executive Vice President of Samsung SDI R&D Center; Kim Yong-seok, Head of Samsung SDI America R&D Center; and Yuan Yang, Professor at Columbia University.
A joint Korea-U.S. research team led by Samsung SDI has developed a technology that extends the life and improves the safety of lithium metal batteries, known as “next-generation batteries.” On the 23rd, Samsung SDI announced that, through industry-academia collaboration with Columbia University in the United States, it has developed a new electrolyte composition that can be applied to lithium metal batteries.
Lithium metal batteries have an energy density about 1.6 times higher than that of existing ternary (NCM) batteries. As they can be used in wearable devices that store large amounts of energy in a small space, they are regarded as one of the core technologies. However, lithium metal batteries have faced commercialization constraints because their lifespan ends after only several dozen charge-discharge cycles.
The joint research team from Samsung SDI and Columbia University successfully suppressed “dendrites,” identified as a key factor degrading the performance of lithium metal batteries, by applying a gel polymer electrolyte. Dendrites are sharp, needle-like structures formed when some of the lithium ions shuttling between the cathode and anode during charging or use fail to move properly and accumulate. When dendrites accumulate in large amounts, they can damage the separator, increasing the risk of fire and shortening battery life.
Operating mechanism image of the gel polymer electrolyte. Joule
The research team addressed this issue by applying a gel-type polymer electrolyte. Compared with conventional liquid electrolytes, the higher-density gel electrolyte physically suppresses dendrite formation and lowers the risk of fire. The paper has been published in the latest issue of “Joule,” a leading journal in the energy field.
Joo Yong-rak, Head of Samsung SDI R&D Center (Executive Vice President), said, “This paper is highly meaningful in that the technology for improving the safety of lithium metal batteries has been academically verified.” Professor Yuan Yang of Columbia University stated, “This research will bring us one step closer to the commercialization of next-generation batteries.”
Summary of the gel polymer electrolyte research results by the Samsung SDI joint research team, published in the international journal Joule. Joule
Park Jong-min
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
ⓒ dongA.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction, redistribution, or use for AI training prohibited.
