This photo shows a charging station for electric vehicles in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, August 5 (Korea Bizwire) — A team of South Korean scientists has unveiled a breakthrough in electric vehicle (EV) battery technology that could extend battery life more than fivefold, potentially revolutionizing the performance and longevity of EVs.
Researchers led by Professor Cho Chang-shin of POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) and Professor Yoon Sung-hoon of Chung-Ang University announced on Tuesday that they have developed a new cathode material that dramatically improves the durability of lithium-ion batteries. The findings were published on July 3 in the international journal Materials Today.
The innovation addresses a major challenge in EV battery development: enhancing lifespan without relying on costly materials like cobalt. While high-nickel, cobalt-free cathodes are seen as a cost-effective alternative, they have struggled with structural instability, leading to degradation over time.
The Korean team pinpointed the root of this problem — microscopic structural collapse during charge-discharge cycles, known as c-lattice distortion — and devised a new synthesis method using an organic surfactant. This method allows zirconium ions to be evenly distributed deep within the cathode particles, reinforcing the internal structure like steel beams in a building.
The result: a cathode material that retains 98.6% of its capacity after 100 charge-discharge cycles and 94.2% after 500 — more than five times the endurance of conventional high-nickel cobalt-free materials.
“This technology offers a new direction for next-generation cathode materials that are both cobalt-free and highly stable,” said Professor Cho. “It could significantly boost the competitiveness of Korean EV battery materials on the global stage.”
The research marks a notable stride in the global race to develop more durable, cost-efficient batteries amid soaring EV demand.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
