Korean scientists are developing a new battery that will have record energy density and service life

South Korean scientists from Pohang University of Science and Technology and Sogang University have developed a new battery technology that demonstrates significantly higher energy density and longer service life compared to current models, NotebookCheck reports, citing the scientific journal Advanced Science.

A key element of the innovation is the "interconnected electrode-electrolyte" (IEE) structure, where the electrode and electrolyte components are connected together at the molecular level. This approach eliminates the degradation problem that occurs during charge and discharge cycles in traditional lithium-ion batteries.

In laboratory conditions, prototypes with the IEE structure achieved a gravimetric energy density of 403.7 Wh/kg and a volumetric density of 1300 Wh/L. For comparison, the Tesla 4680 car battery has 241 Wh/kg and 643 Wh/L, respectively.

A key advantage of the IEE structure is its compatibility with silicon anodes. Silicon can store ten times more lithium than graphite, but its volume changes greatly during charging, which shortens its service life. The solid compound in IEE stabilizes the anode and reduces mechanical stress, making silicon more suitable for practical use.

Despite its high efficiency, the technology is still only in the laboratory. Scaling it up requires new methods of material processing, which makes it difficult to move to industrial production. It is expected that several years of additional research and development will be needed to adapt it to mass production.

If successfully commercialized, the technology could significantly improve the performance of batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and energy storage systems.