The Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), under the leadership of President Kunwoo Lee and spearheaded by Principal Researcher Kim Jae-hyun from the Division of Energy & Environmental Technology, has made a groundbreaking development in lithium metal battery technology. Their research has led to the creation of a lithium metal battery featuring a triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte that substantially improves fire safety and battery lifespan.
This innovation is particularly relevant for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems, addressing the long-standing issues associated with conventional solid polymer electrolyte batteries, such as poor electrode contact and the formation of dendrites. Dendrites, tree-like lithium growths during charge-discharge cycles, pose significant risks by disrupting battery connections, potentially leading to fires and explosions.
To combat this, DGIST's research team devised a triple-layer electrolyte structure. Each layer plays a specific role: The inclusion of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) enhances fire resistance, zeolite improves the electrolyte's mechanical strength, and a high concentration of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) facilitates rapid lithium-ion movement. This structure ensures a robust mechanical strength at the center, while the soft outer layer assures excellent electrode contact, promoting efficient energy transfer and preventing dendrite formation.
Testing revealed that the new battery maintains approximately 87.9% of its performance after 1,000 charge-discharge cycles, a significant improvement over traditional batteries, which typically retain 70-80% of their performance. Moreover, this battery can extinguish itself in case of fire, markedly reducing fire hazards. It has diverse applications, from small devices such as smartphones and wearables to EVs and major energy storage systems.
Kim emphasized the potential of this research in advancing the commercialization of lithium metal batteries with solid polymer electrolytes, enhancing stability and efficiency in energy storage devices. The project received support from the Future Materials Discovery Project (led by Professor Lee Jung-ho of Hanyang University) and the Mid-Career Researcher Program (led by Kim) of the National Research Foundation of Korea. The study was featured as the cover article in the international academic journal, Small, published by Wiley, marking a significant contribution to the field of energy storage and battery technology.
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