LG Energy Solution Develops Technology to Increase All-Solid-State Battery Charging Speed by 10 Times

LG Energy Solution and Professor Shirley Meng Publish Key Paper on All-Solid-State Battery Technology

LG Energy Solution has developed a technology that increases the charging speed of all-solid-state batteries by about 10 times in collaboration with a world-renowned scholar.

On the 11th (Korean time), LG Energy Solution announced that a paper titled "The Effect of Metal Crystal Growth Direction on Battery Charging Speed and Safety," co-researched with Professor Shirley Meng of the University of Chicago, a global expert in the field of all-solid-state battery research, was published in the prestigious international energy journal Joule.

Professor Shirley Meng explains that improving the texture of metals used in batteries significantly enhances performance. (Photo by LG Energy Solution)

LG Energy Solution has been advancing all-solid-state battery technology research together with the Frontier Research Lab (FRL) research teams at the University of Chicago, led by Professor Shirley Meng, and the University of California San Diego (UCSD).

Professor Shirley Meng developed a technology that introduces a thin silicon layer into the all-solid-state battery to control the crystal growth direction of lithium metal, inducing uniform electrodeposition. Electrodeposition refers to ions in the electrolyte adhering to the surface of the electrode under an electric field. This technology reportedly improves the charging speed of all-solid-state batteries by about 10 times or more and significantly enhances battery safety.

LG Energy Solution expects that this research achievement will accelerate the development of an anode-free all-solid-state battery. An anode-free all-solid-state battery refers to an all-solid-state battery that removes the anode material from the conventional anode and utilizes lithium ions that move from the cathode during charging, which are then reduced to lithium metal at the anode. This method is regarded as an innovative technology that can reduce battery weight and volume while maximizing energy density.

However, if lithium metal is not uniformly electrodeposited, there is a limitation where battery life may shorten or performance may degrade. This research provides a breakthrough to address this issue. The research team explained, "By analyzing the effect of metal crystal growth direction on lithium metal electrodeposition and introducing a thin silicon layer to control the crystal growth of lithium metal, we achieved a result that improves the charging speed of all-solid-state batteries by about 10 times."

An LG Energy Solution official stated, "As demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS) increases, manufacturing expertise and innovative university research collaboration are crucial for developing next-generation battery technologies," adding, "We will enhance customer value and establish ourselves as a leader in the battery market through continuous technology development and cooperation."

Meanwhile, LG Energy Solution is actively investing in research and development for next-generation battery technologies, including all-solid-state batteries. The company also established a joint research center, FRL, with leading domestic and international universities and institutions to conduct focused R&D projects related to next-generation batteries and proactively secure core technologies for next-generation batteries.