Researchers in Korea have developed a technology that significantly extends the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.
Professor Cho Chang-shin of Pohang University of Science and Technology POSTECH's Department of Battery Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering, along with Professor Yoon Seong-hoon of Chung-Ang University's Department of Convergence Engineering, announced on the 5th that they developed a cathode material technology that prolongs battery life by more than five times. The research results were published in the international academic journal "Materials Today" on July 3.
The battery of an electric vehicle generates current as lithium ions from the anode move to the cathode. As electric vehicles become more common, the battery's "endurance" has become important. It is necessary to travel farther on a single charge, and robust batteries are required even after several years, but existing battery materials have limitations in lifespan.
In particular, the "high-nickel non-cobalt cathode material," which reduces expensive cobalt and increases the nickel content, is advantageous in terms of price but has been challenging for long-term use.
The research team focused on the fundamental cause of short battery lifespan. As batteries charge and discharge repeatedly, their internal structure gradually deteriorates. As the arrangement of atoms inside the battery distorts, tiny cracks develop, ultimately damaging the entire structure. This deformation is referred to as "c-lattice distortion," which is a major culprit in lifespan reduction.
In this study, the research team developed a new synthesis method using organic surfactants. The key is to evenly disperse zirconium ions throughout the smallest particles of the cathode material. Surfactants, which are soap components, reduce the surface tension of liquids, allowing components that do not mix easily, like water and oil, to blend evenly. Additionally, during the heat treatment process, they help to firmly anchor the zirconium within the particles.
The researchers noted that the new synthesis method made the cathode material sturdier, akin to building a steel structure in a building. They explained that zirconium ions act as columns within the battery's crystalline structure, supporting it so it does not easily collapse even after repeated charge and discharge cycles. The battery maintained 98.6% of its capacity after 100 charge-discharge cycles and exhibited 94.2% performance after 500 repetitions. Its lifespan is over five times longer than that of existing high-nickel non-cobalt materials.
Professor Cho Chang-shin stated, "This technology suggests a new direction for developing next-generation cathode materials that operate reliably without using expensive cobalt," adding, "It will help enhance the competitiveness of domestic electric vehicle battery materials."
References
Materials Today (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.042