Inside an electric vehicle battery are a cathode that releases electricity and an anode that receives it. Lithium moves back and forth between the two, storing and releasing electricity. The anode is both a vessel that holds lithium and a space that stores electricity, and how much lithium it can stably store determines the battery's capacity.
Most currently use graphite as the anode material, but its storage space is limited. Because of this, many corporations are speeding up development of "silicon anode material," which has an energy density more than 10 times higher than graphite.
The secondary battery materials Start - Up Kairos is also taking on the development of silicon anode material that could dramatically improve electric vehicle battery range and charging speed. Chief Executive Lee Byung-chul, who founded Kairos, worked for 20 years in materials development at LG Electronics.
Lee said, "As the electric vehicle market grows rapidly, improving battery charging efficiency remains a task." Lee added, "We founded the company in 2022, and our research and development (R&D) team currently includes Ph.D.s in ceramic engineering," and "we have silicon control and composite coating technologies, and recently set up a plant to prepare for product production next year."
Lee described graphite and silicon as "rooms." If graphite is a "room" that is already full, silicon is a material that can increase the number of those rooms by more than 10. Silicon can store lithium ions much faster and in greater amounts. However, silicon has the drawback of shortened lifespan due to volume expansion and cracking during charge and discharge. Kairos developed a conductive composite material coating technology to solve this problem.
Lee noted, "The key is to control silicon expansion and minimize cracking," adding, "Coating technology is the key to commercializing silicon." Lee added, "Secondary battery materials take a long time to evaluate for safety and reliability," and "each evaluation takes three to four months, so the slow business pace is the biggest difficulty, but that also means the technological entry barrier is high."
The market related to silicon anode material is expected to grow to 8 trillion won worldwide by 2030. Kairos is currently conducting reliability evaluations of silicon anode material with major domestic conglomerates. After passing reliability evaluations under certain conditions, it undergoes re-evaluation under harsher conditions. Kairos is aiming to enter the market based on its differentiated coating technology.
Lee emphasized, "In the end, the key is who can commercialize stably and maximize silicon content." Lee said, "Currently, silicon anode materials have a content level of only around 10 percent, but we are targeting 100 percent," and "we will launch products in the market with price competitiveness."
Recognized for its technological capabilities, Kairos has so far attracted 7.5 billion won in investment. A Japanese robot and drone manufacturing corporation also needs high-content silicon anode material and is showing interest in Kairos. With Samsung, LG and SK holding high shares in secondary batteries, partnering with major domestic conglomerates would effectively mean expanding overseas, and Kairos is drawing attention abroad as well.
Lee said, "Anode materials are in the phase of opening up the market," adding, "Kairos will introduce high-content silicon anode material at a competitive price and make the company one that can lead this field."