HMN 2026: How Oxygen anchoring unlocks air-stable solid-state batteries with faster charging

Expectations are rising for all-solid-state batteries—the “dream battery” with low fire risk—not only for electric vehicles but also for various fields such as robotics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). A research team at KAIST has presented a new design principle that simultaneously overcomes the limitations of solid electrolytes, which were previously vulnerable to air exposure and suffered from low performance. This technology is gaining significant attention as it can enhance both battery safety and charging speeds, demonstrating the feasibility of commercializing next-generation all-solid-state batteries.

The team was led by Professor Dong-Hwa Seo from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with teams from Dongguk University, Yonsei University and Chungbuk National University. Their technology maintains structural stability even when exposed to air while dramatically increasing ionic conductivity. The paper is published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.

Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that use liquid electrolytes, all-solid-state batteries are spotlighted as next-generation batteries due to their low fire risk. Among these, halide-based solid electrolytes—which contain halogen elements such as chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br)—are advantageous in terms of performance due to their high ionic conductivity. However, they are known to be difficult materials to manufacture and handle because they are highly vulnerable to moisture in the air, which easily degrades their performance.

To solve this problem, the research team introduced a new structure called “oxygen anchoring.” This method involves stably bonding oxygen inside the electrolyte to strengthen its structural integrity, a process in which the element Tungsten plays a key role. The resulting electrolyte maintains a stable structure without collapsing, even in air-exposed environments.

In addition, the research team improved battery performance in addition to stability. The changes in the internal structure of the electrolyte widened the pathways for lithium ions, allowing them to move more smoothly and increasing the ion migration speed. It was confirmed that the oxygen-incorporated material exhibited an ionic conductivity approximately 2.7 times higher than that of conventional zirconium (Zr)-based halide solid electrolytes.

Another feature of this technology is that it is not limited to a specific material. The research team applied the same strategy to various halide solid electrolytes, including those based on zirconium (Zr), indium (In), yttrium (Y), and erbium (Er), and confirmed similar effects. This demonstrates that it is a “universal design principle” applicable to a wide range of battery materials.

The research team expects this technology to contribute to the development of solid electrolytes that possess both air stability and high performance.

Professor Dong-Hwa Seo stated, “This study presents a new material design principle that optimizes multiple performances through a structural design strategy that simultaneously improves air stability and ionic conductivity. It will serve as a key indicator for future all-solid-state battery research and process development.”

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