By Yoon Sung-won
Researchers have developed a gel-type solid electrolyte which can be used to produce batteries that do not explode, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) said Tuesday.
As a key component for lithium secondary batteries and capacitors, electrolytes deliver ions while limiting the transmission of electrons. Carbonate liquid electrolytes, which are the most commonly-used ones, are vulnerable to evaporation, leakage and fires, causing safety issues. Concerns have also been raised that unstable lithium secondary batteries may undermine the electric vehicle and energy storage system industries.
"The ion-liquid gel electrolyte can be physically gelled without adding chemical agents," said Koo Chong-min, a principal research scientist at KIST. "Compared to the existing gel-type electrolytes, it has superior electrochemical properties, thermal stability and ion conductivity, as well as higher formability and processing features. It is also free from leakage, volatilization, fire and explosion and thus is capable of dramatically improving instability issues of existing liquid electrolytes."
Koo and his research team have collaborated with scientists from Kyung Hee University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Based on the development achievement, Koo's research team is pushing to evaluate the applicability to energy storage devices such as lithium secondary batteries and capacitors to commercialize the new material technology.
The research was published in international science journal Advanced Materials, Nov. 9, KIST said.
Researchers have developed a gel-type solid electrolyte which can be used to produce batteries that do not explode, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) said Tuesday.
As a key component for lithium secondary batteries and capacitors, electrolytes deliver ions while limiting the transmission of electrons. Carbonate liquid electrolytes, which are the most commonly-used ones, are vulnerable to evaporation, leakage and fires, causing safety issues. Concerns have also been raised that unstable lithium secondary batteries may undermine the electric vehicle and energy storage system industries.
"The ion-liquid gel electrolyte can be physically gelled without adding chemical agents," said Koo Chong-min, a principal research scientist at KIST. "Compared to the existing gel-type electrolytes, it has superior electrochemical properties, thermal stability and ion conductivity, as well as higher formability and processing features. It is also free from leakage, volatilization, fire and explosion and thus is capable of dramatically improving instability issues of existing liquid electrolytes."
Koo and his research team have collaborated with scientists from Kyung Hee University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Based on the development achievement, Koo's research team is pushing to evaluate the applicability to energy storage devices such as lithium secondary batteries and capacitors to commercialize the new material technology.
The research was published in international science journal Advanced Materials, Nov. 9, KIST said.
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