Lithium metal batteries have been studied as they were claimed to run longer and hold more energy than lithium-ion batteries, which work by passing lithium ions between a graphite anode and a lithium cobalt oxide cathode. However, using lithium metal batteries has been difficult because of frequent corrosion.
LG Energy Solution (LGES) said on December 7 that the company worked with the state-run Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) to secure core technology against the corrosion of the next-generation batteries. The joint research team said a material called "borate-pyran lean electrolyte" can prevent corrosion caused by dendrites and liquid electrolytes. A dendrite is a crystalline mass that can produce undesirable side effects and reduce a battery's lifespan and safety.
LGES said the new technology ensures a long lifespan with over 400 recharge cycles. Unlike all-solid-state batteries, it operates without requiring high temperatures and pressure. The battery maker has carried out the project though a joint research facility "Frontier Research Laboratory" with the KAIST.
The research, titled "Borate–pyran lean electrolyte-based Li-metal batteries with minimal Li corrosion," was published on the website of Nature Energy, a peer-reviewed journal.
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