KRICT develops new lithium composite material to enhance performance and safety of next-generation lithium rechargeable batteries
image: The process involves mechanically kneading lithium foil and LLZO particles. The LLZO particles are placed on top of the lithium foil, which is then folded in half and pressed flat using a roll press. This folding and pressing cycle is repeated multiple times (the research team repeated it 30 times) to create a composite material in which the lithium and LLZO particles are evenly mixed.
Credit: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT)
Amid the global pursuit of next-generation secondary battery solutions to replace current lithium-ion technology, Korean researchers have pioneered a groundbreaking lithium composite material that dramatically enhances both safety and lifespan, achieving over three times longer durability compared to existing materials.
The research team, led by Dr. Do-Yeob Kim from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), has unveiled a novel lithium composite that stabilizes lithium growth, effectively overcoming the uncontrolled growth of lithium metal within batteries, which historically has impaired performance and safety.
This high-stability lithium composite material is poised to significantly advance the development of lithium-metal, lithium-sulfur, and lithium-air batteries. By suppressing dendritic lithium growth, a common barrier to the development of safe and high-performance batteries, this new composite addresses one of the most critical challenges in next-generation battery technology.
Currently, graphite is the dominant kprimary anode material in lithium-ion batteries due to its affordability and safety. However, given graphite’s lower energy density and limited capacity, lithium metal is an ideal alternative for kthe anodes in next-generation lithium batteries.
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, which rely on a stable graphite structure to store lithium ions, lithium-metal batteries accumulate lithium directly on the metal surface, resulting in “lithium dendrites.” These dendrites can reduce battery efficiency, compromise safety, and in severe cases, lead to short circuits and battery explosions.
Dr. Kim’s team has introduced a lithium composite material that promotes uniform lithium growth while facilitating ion transport. The composite was fabricated using an innovative method that involves physically blending lithium with an electrolyte material*, rather than relying on high-temperature processing.
* Al-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (Al-LLZO): Aluminum-doped lithium lanthium zirconate solid electrolyte, a material widely studied as a solid electrolyte for ‘all-solid-state batteries’ among next-generation secondary batteries.
Testing confirmed that the composite material not only reduced dendritic growth but also extended battery life by more than three-fold compared to traditional lithium metal, demonstrating stable performance over 250 charge-discharge cycles without significant capacity loss. Additionally, charging speeds increased by more than 20% under specific conditions.
KRICT’s technology is currently being applied in lithium-metal and lithium-sulfur batteries and has shown promising results for scalability and large-format pouch cell applications, indicating its commercial potential.
KRICT President Young-Kook Lee remarked, “This breakthrough offers a foundational advancement in next-generation secondary battery technology, positioning KRICT as a global leader in this high-stakes market.”
This research aligns with KRICT’s participation in the Global TOP Strategic Research Initiative, which focuses on the development of high-performance, large-area battery technology for next-generation energy solutions.
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KRICT is a non-profit research institute funded by the Korean government. Since its foundation in 1976, KRICT has played a leading role to advance national chemical technologies in the fields of chemistry, materials science, environmental science, and chemical engineering. Now, KRICT is moving forward to become a globally leading research institute tackling the most challenging issues in the field of Chemistry and Engineering and will continue to fulfill its role in developing chemical technologies that benefit the entire world and contribute to maintaining a healthy planet. More detailed information on KRICT can be found at http://www.krict.re.kr/eng
This study was supported by the Nano-Materials Technology Development Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by Ministry of Science and ICT, and Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT). The research was published in volume 24, issue 2 of Advanced Functional Materials, a renowned international journal in the material science field (IF:18.5), and was featured on the inside back cover of the issue.