Serious competition is taking place among car manufacturers to acquire solid-state battery technology, which is considered the next-generation battery of choice. This technology is considered to be crucial to replace flammable Lithium-ion batteries, which have become increasingly popular. It is also seen as a solution for electric vehicles with limited driving range, as it offers higher energy density.

  Solid-state batteries are composed of solids for all parts of the battery. In these batteries, the role of an solid electrolyte affects their performance and characteristics. Electrolyte materials for solid-state batteries are usually categorized into oxide, sulfide, or polymer-based ones. Among them, oxide electrolyte has gained more attention due to its higher stability and low cost of fabrication.

  To meet the demand, Dr. Boyun Jang and his research team from the Energy Storage Research Department of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), along with President Yi Chang-keun, have successfully developed a composite solid electrolyte for solid-state batteries that exhibits higher ion conductivity at room temperature. The solid-state battery that has been developed has a high density of 310 Wh/kg. It also performs reliably in extreme conditions such as bending and cutting, without the risk of fire or explosion.

  For the development of high performance-solid electrolytes, researchers have increased the oxide content of solid electrolyte up to 80% content, surpassing the previous perceived limit of 30%. This has led to improved ion conductivity and stability. In addition, polymers are used as binders to enhance the cohesion among the components of the electrolyte. This leads to thinner electrolytes that maintain their mechanical stability. With these characteristics, these electrolytes can be easily processed on a large scale by using roll-to-roll technology.

  Dr. Jang states that large corporations are currently prioritizing the development of solid electrolytes made from sulfides that release hydrogen sulfide. However, this time a government-funded research institute is taking the initiative to develop a more stable and safer oxide composite solid electrolyte that outperforms existing secondary batteries. Therefore, it will greatly contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the EV market.

  The technology for the composite solid electrolyte has been transferred to a start-up ASET Ltd. (Park Seok Jeong, CEO), which sets a goal to commercialize composite solid electrolytes for EVs by 2026. The CEO, Park, believes that this is a wonderful opportunity for us to boost our business by utilizing the transferred technology, especially since global companies are currently seeking composite solid electrolytes.