Sign up for our popular daily email to catch all the latest EV news!
SK On, a leading global battery and trading company, has announced significant advancements in solid-state battery research. Through collaborations with academic partners, the company has developed methods to enhance the cycle life of sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium metal batteries and uncovered the relationship between gel polymer electrolyte thermal curing time and battery performance.
Key Highlights
- Enhanced Cycle Life: Developed a method to improve the cycle life of sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium metal batteries by forming a protective layer on the lithium metal anode.
- Battery Safety and Lifespan: The protective layer enhances battery safety and extends its lifespan by ensuring interfacial stability.
- Thermal Curing Impact: Discovered that longer thermal curing times for gel polymer electrolytes result in better retention of battery performance.
- Commercialization Plans: SK On aims to commercialize polymer-oxide composite and sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries by 2028 and 2030, respectively.
Advancing Battery Technology
In a study published in ACS Energy Letters, SK On partnered with Dr. Dong-Won Kim’s group at Hanyang University to address challenges with lithium metal anodes in sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs). Despite their high capacity—about ten times greater than graphite—lithium metal anodes face issues like high reactivity and dendrite formation, which shorten battery life. The team devised a solution by immersing the anode in a specialized solution, removing the resistive surface layer and forming a protective coating with high ionic conductivity and mechanical strength. This enabled the battery to achieve over 300 charge-discharge cycles at room temperature, a major leap from the typical 100 cycles.
In a separate collaboration with Dr. Jong Hyeok Park of Yonsei University, published in Angewandte Chemie, SK On explored gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). The study found that batteries with 60 minutes of thermal curing retained performance better, showing only a 9.1% decrease in discharge capacity, compared to a 34% drop with 20 minutes of curing. Using density functional theory, the team identified residual monomer-induced side reactions as a key cause of cathode degradation.
“These achievements are the result of SK On’s continued R&D efforts and technological prowess, enabled through collaboration with academia,” said Kisoo Park, Head of R&D at SK On. The company plans to commercialize polymer-oxide composite batteries by 2028 and sulfide-based batteries by 2030, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable energy solutions.
About SK On
Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, SK On operates globally, with battery plants across the United States, Europe, and Asia, driving innovation for a greener future.
Sign up for our popular daily email to catch all the latest EV news!
