A visitor looks at battery products during InterBattery exhibition held in COEX in southern Seoul on June 9, 2021. (Yonhap)
DAEJEON, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s top-ranked science and technology university said Thursday that it had developed a high-performance all-solid-state battery using a high molecular electrolyte in the form of an elastomer, a synthetic resin with excellent elasticity and dynamic stability.
The all-solid-state Li-metal battery was developed by changing the state of the electrolyte between the secondary battery’s lithium metal negative electrode and positive electrode to solid from liquid, which has a high risk of fire.
A joint research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) and the Georgia Institute of Technology developed the high molecular solid-state electrolyte by three-dimensionally connecting the plastic crystals with high lithium-ion conductivity within the elastomer.
Using the new electrolyte, the research team developed an all-solid-state lithium metal battery that has an energy density of 410 watt-hour (Wh) per kilogram, higher than the 280 Wh common among existing polyethylene oxide-based batteries.
The new battery could contribute to extending the range of an electric vehicle that can currently cover 500 kilometers on a single charge to 800 kilometers.
The technology operated stably without safety problems like fire, even on 4.5-volt-plus high voltage all-solid-state battery consisting of a lithium metal negative electrode and a nickel rich positive electrode (NCM-Ni83).
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
