Lotte Chemical has pioneered the domestic development of manufacturing technology for separator coating materials to address the instability of lithium metal anodes.
Lotte Chemical announced on Nov. 28 that it has completed the development and domestic patent application for manufacturing technology of separator coating materials used in the lithium metal anode materials for next-generation semi-solid-state and all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. The patented technology improves the flow of lithium ions by applying functional materials to the lithium metal battery separator, effectively suppressing dendrite formation and enhancing the battery’s durability and safety.
Dendrites are dendritic crystalline structures that accumulate on the anode surface during the battery charging process. They damage the separator that prevents contact between the cathode and anode, lowering the battery’s stability and lifespan. Lithium metal anode materials utilize metallic lithium as the anode, significantly increasing the energy density per unit weight of electric vehicle batteries compared to conventional graphite anode materials. Therefore, they are attracting attention as next-generation materials. However, controlling dendrite formation during the charging process requires specialized technology for commercialization.
An official from Lotte Chemical said, “Applying the separator coating material to lithium metal batteries can anticipate an improvement in durability of over 30 percent compared to conventional separators without coating. Even after 500 charge-discharge cycles, the battery retains 90 percent of its capacity.” Utilizing this technology allows for the use of existing manufacturing facilities employed for conventional lithium-ion batteries, providing a cost-savings advantage when establishing production facilities for next-generation semi-solid-state and all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.
In 2021, Lotte Chemical made a strategic equity investment in the U.S. startup “Soelect,” a developer of lithium metal anode materials, and entered into a joint development agreement (JDA). Through two years of collaborative research with Soelect, Lotte Chemical developed and applied technologies related to semi-solid-state and all-solid-state lithium metal batteries, which are highly regarded as next-generation batteries.