Domestic researchers have developed a technology that utilizes inexpensive materials to extend battery life more than seven times and reduce explosion risks. By preventing lithium from growing unevenly inside the battery, safety has been enhanced, and it is expected to aid in the development of smaller, longer-lasting next-generation batteries.
A research team led by Dr. An Gi-seok and Dr. Seo Dong-beom from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and Professor Park Sang-baek's research team from Chungnam National University noted on the 1st that "they confirmed that lithium, the core material of batteries, spreads evenly and operates stably by applying a cheap material called molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) very thinly, significantly increasing its lifespan." The research results were published last month in the international academic journal Nano-Micro Letters.
Lithium-ion batteries used in wireless electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops can have lithium accumulate sharply in one area during charging. If this sharp part punctures the inside of the battery, it could explode. To prevent such issues, solid-state batteries that use solid materials have recently gained attention. This method replaces liquids with solids to create safer batteries.
A step further is the "silent anode solid-state battery," which generates an anode by having lithium adhere to itself during the first charge. This innovation allows for reductions in battery size and increases in storage capacity.
However, this method has a limitation: repeating the charging and discharging cycles destabilizes the internal structure, shortening battery life. Until now, expensive metals such as silver or indium have been used to mitigate this issue. However, these materials are costly and difficult to manufacture, making commercialization challenging.
Researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and Chungnam National University used molybdenum disulfide, a cheaper material, instead of these expensive metals. This substance, which reacts well with lithium, creates a protective layer inside the battery and prevents the lithium from growing sharply.
The researchers found that batteries made with traditional methods failed after about 95 hours, while batteries incorporating the new technology operated effectively for over 300 hours. The initial performance was also better, and the capacity remained stable even after multiple charge-discharge cycles. Compared to existing batteries, the initial discharge capacity improved by 1.18 times and the lifespan increased sevenfold.
The researchers stated that they are still in the early research stages but suggested that commercialization could be achieved by 2032. They remarked that "this important technology has succeeded in creating high-performance batteries with inexpensive materials" and added that "it will be greatly beneficial for the future commercialization of solid-state batteries."
References
Nano-Micro Letters (2025), DOI: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40820-025-01729-w