The innovation significantly enhances battery lifespan and environmental sustainability, the researchers announced on Monday. (KAIST)
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – A research team from KAIST, led by Professor Il-Doo Kim, in collaboration with Professor Ji-Young Lee’s team at Ajou University, has developed a groundbreaking eco-friendly method for manufacturing protective films for lithium-metal batteries.
The innovation significantly enhances battery lifespan and environmental sustainability, the researchers announced on Monday.
Lithium metal is a promising next-generation anode material due to its high energy density and capacity, far surpassing the commonly used graphite. However, lithium dendrites—tree-like structures formed on the anode during charging—pose a critical safety risk, potentially leading to short circuits and fires.
To counter this, the research team created a hollow-structured nanofiber protective film using guar gum, a natural polymer derived from plants. Employing electrospinning technology, the team dissolved guar gum in water to produce ultrathin fibers.
These fibers form a protective layer that physically and chemically regulates lithium-ion growth while remaining entirely eco-friendly, as the process uses no organic solvents.
The innovative protective film prevents random lithium-ion deposits on the anode, mitigating dendrite formation. Batteries using the film demonstrated a 7.5-fold improvement in lifespan and maintained 93.3% performance even after 300 charge-discharge cycles.
Additionally, the film decomposes fully in soil within a month, proving its environmental viability across the battery’s lifecycle.
Professor Kim highlighted the significance of the achievement: “As battery demand surges, the environmental issues tied to production and disposal are becoming critical. This water-based, biodegradable solution represents a leap forward for sustainable battery technologies.”
The research findings were published as the cover article in the November 21 issue of Advanced Materials.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
