Wedoany.com Report on Feb 26th, South Korean researchers recently announced a new advancement in lithium metal battery technology, which is expected to significantly improve the charging speed and driving range of electric vehicles. This achievement, disclosed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on February 25, marks an important step forward in addressing the key challenges of next-generation batteries.
With the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, market demand for high-energy-density and fast-charging batteries is growing rapidly. Lithium metal batteries are considered a potential replacement for lithium-ion batteries, but safety and durability issues have limited their commercial application.
The main challenge stems from the formation of lithium dendrites during the charging process. These tiny, needle-like structures can pierce the battery's interior, causing short circuits, capacity loss, and even fire risks. This is related to the instability at the interface between the electrode and electrolyte, leading to uneven lithium deposition.
The research team was led by Professor Nam-Soon Choi and Professor Seungbum Hong from KAIST, in collaboration with Professor Sang Kyu Kwak from Korea University. They tackled this problem by addressing it at the electronic structure level, rather than relying on traditional material adjustments.
By adding thiophene to the electrolyte, the researchers constructed a dynamic "smart protective" layer on the lithium surface. This layer can adjust its electronic structure in real-time according to lithium ion movement, similar to a smart traffic system optimizing lane flow, thereby providing stable channels for ions and preventing uneven accumulation.
Verified by density functional theory simulations, this additive enhances interface stability more effectively than existing commercial products. Experiments show that it can effectively suppress dendrite growth even at high current densities exceeding 8 mA/cm², enabling fast charging within 12 minutes, meeting the practical fast-charging needs of electric vehicles.
The team used in-situ atomic force microscopy to observe the lithium deposition process at the nanoscale, confirming uniform deposition and removal under high current, ensuring the battery's mechanical and structural stability. This technology is compatible with various cathode materials, such as lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide, and lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide, facilitating integration into existing EV manufacturing systems.
Choi stated, "This research is not merely a material improvement, but an achievement in solving the fundamental problem of batteries by designing the electronic structure." She added, "It will become a core foundational technology for next-generation electric vehicle batteries that simultaneously achieve fast charging and long lifespan." The related research has been published in the materials and energy journal *InfoMat*.
