KU has Developed a One-Micrometer Thinner-than-Hair Multifunctional Ultra-Thin Carbon Film Layer for Next-Generation Lithium Metal Batteries

▲ (From left) Professor Yoon Young-soo and Ha Son (integrated master-doctoral degree programs).

KU (President Kim Dong-one) has developed an ultra-thin carbon layer 1/30th the thickness of hair (1 µm=0.0001mm), capable of significantly improving the stability of lithium metal negative electrodes, which are essential materials for next-generation lithium metal batteries.

This research was conducted by Professor Yoon Young-soo’s group (KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology), and the results were published on May 28 (Tue) in Small (IF:13.3), an internationally renowned journal.

* Title of article: High-Power, High-Safety, and Large-Area Lithium Metal Anode

A lithium metal battery uses lithium metal as a negative electrode material, and because it has a higher energy density than that of existing lithium ion batteries, it is a promising next-generation battery system. However, the dendrite growth of lithium has restricted the commercialization of lithium metal batteries. It deteriorates battery performance and carries the risk of explosion in severe cases.

*Energy density: Driving range per single charge/use time

Existing lithium metal electrodes employ a thick and heavy protective film to prevent dendrite growth, but this reduces the energy density. Professor Yoon’s research group developed a multifunctional ultra-thin film-type carbon layer 1/30th the thickness of hair, and demonstrated that dendrite growth was suppressed more efficiently compared to the performance of existing lithium metal electrodes.

Since the development of secondary batteries using lithium metal as a negative electrode material requires a method for suppressing lithium dendrite growth, the results of this study can accelerate the development of safe, high-performance next-generation secondary batteries, thereby benefiting not only the academic community but also relevant industries.

This research was conducted by Professor Yoon Young-soo of the KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology and Ha Son, a student in the integrated master-doctoral degree program, in collaboration with Professor Yang Seung-jae and Professor Jin Hyoung-joon at Inha University and Dr. Park Jung-jin at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.

<Figure 1> 

[Description of Figure 1] Illustration of selective control of lithium deposition reactions through the control of surface energy on double-walled carbon nanotube (DWNT) membranes.