Energy Density Twice Higher than LFB Battery

Photomicrograph of the monocrystalline battery cathode material developed by SMLAB

SMLAB, a company set up by a professor of the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, announced on Jan. 17 that it has developed the world’s first manganese- and nickel-based single-crystal cathode material and the energy density of its development is at least 200 percent of that of an LFP material.

A cathode material accounts for at least 35 percent of the price of an electric vehicle battery and, as such, a less expensive cathode material is essential for a less expensive electric vehicle. It is in this context that Tesla is using LFP batteries for certain models. An LFP cathode material is about three times cheaper than a conventional cathode material for use in electric vehicle batteries.

In actuality, however, the price of an LFP battery is lower by 20 percent or so. This is because the energy density of the material is low and the amount of use needs to be increased for the same battery capacity.

SMLAB, which was founded by UNIST professor Cho Jae-phil in 2018, succeeded in boosting the energy density by developing a particle growth accelerator and adding it for particle enlargement to a micrometer level. An appropriate increase in particle size is required for an increase in energy density. This particle enlargement is not easy at a high content of manganese, which is an inexpensive material. Manganese-based material development for commercial use began in the 2010s and the progress has been slow with single particles remaining in the form of polycrystals of 300 nm or less.

“As for the low output characteristics of manganese-based electrode materials, we developed a conductive coating to solve the problem and the coating is resistant to high temperature as well,” it said, adding, “We are planning to conduct demonstration tests in the fourth quarter after some verification processes.”

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