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(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) Young Sook Yoon = LG Chem Ltd., a leading South Korean chemical company, has secured a key technology for the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries, advancing its position in the next-generation battery race.
The company announced it has successfully improved battery performance by precisely controlling the particle size of solid electrolytes—a breakthrough recognized by its publication in the prestigious journal Advanced Energy Materials.
On the 25th, LG Chem revealed it has developed a "Spray-Recrystallization" technology that enables uniform particle size in solid electrolytes, a core material for all-solid-state batteries. The research was jointly conducted by LG Chem's Next Generation Materials Research Center and Professor Song Tae-seop's team at Hanyang University.
All-solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones, offering lower explosion risk and higher energy efficiency. However, non-uniform electrolyte particle sizes can create voids inside the cell, leading to performance degradation.
To address this, the research team applied a spray-recrystallization process, spraying the electrolyte solution into fine droplets and rapidly evaporating the solvent. This method allows for precise control of particle growth conditions, producing much more uniform spherical particles compared to conventional processes.
Uniform particles enable tighter contact between the electrolyte and cathode active material, facilitating easier lithium-ion movement. As a result, batteries using these uniform particles saw a 15% increase in base capacity and a 50% improvement in high-rate discharge capacity—a key metric for high-power batteries.
LG Chem plans to accelerate solid electrolyte development and bring all-solid-state batteries closer to commercialization using this technology. As all-solid-state batteries are considered the next-generation standard for high-power, high-safety applications such as electric vehicles, drones, and aviation mobility, securing related technology is directly linked to market leadership.
Vice Chairman Shin Hak-cheol of LG Chem stated, "This research is a meaningful achievement that addresses a core challenge in commercializing all-solid-state batteries. LG Chem will continue to strengthen its next-generation battery technology competitiveness to lead the global market."
ysyoon@yna.co.kr
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