HMN 2026: How Novel thick electrode enhances battery power and capacity for a 75% increase in output

A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a new type of thick electrode aimed at solving a common challenge in battery design: As the capacity increases, power often decreases. This breakthrough could enable electric vehicles (EVs) to travel farther on a single charge without sacrificing acceleration or responsiveness.

Led by Professor Kyeong-Min Jeong from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, the team optimized the internal pore structure of thick electrodes, achieving a 75% increase in power output compared to conventional designs.

The findings are published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials.

In the EV market, extending the driving range is a key goal. One way to do this is by stacking more active material within the electrode, creating a thicker structure. However, thicker electrodes typically deliver less power because Li-ions need to travel longer distances, and the complex pore network can slow down the discharge process.

The new electrode maintains a high capacity of 10 mAh/cm² while significantly enhancing power performance. Specifically, under a high 2C discharge rate, traditional electrodes deliver about 0.98 mAh/cm², whereas the new design reaches 1.71 mAh/cm²—roughly 75% more energy in a short burst.

This improvement stems from a detailed analysis of the electrode’s internal pore structure. In this study, the team identified two types of pores. Large pores between particles that help Li-ions flow easily, and tiny pores formed by conductive additives and binders, known as the carbon-binder domain (CBD).

The team discovered that these micro-pores can hinder ion flow. To better understand this, they developed a new model, called the Dual-Pore Transmission Line Model (DTLM), which separates ionic pathways into two parallel channels. Using DTLM, they further optimized manufacturing processes and material ratios to fine-tune the internal pore structure for improved performance.

“Having a quantitative way to analyze these structures provides a solid foundation for applying advanced AI techniques, like physics-informed neural networks, to battery design—even when data is limited,” said first author Byeong-Jin Jeon.

Professor Jeong added, “As we move toward thicker electrodes, it is not just about the materials themselves, but also how we design and manipulate their microstructures. Our work offers valuable insights not only for high-nickel batteries but also for other next-generation chemistries, like lithium iron phosphate (LFP), where controlling the internal structure is particularly important.”

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