Samsung publishes research on a better battery

From left, Yuichi Aihara, principal engineer from the Samsung R&D Institute Japan; Lee Yong-gun, principal researcher; and Im Dong-min, master from SAIT. [SAMSUNG ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY]

Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), a research institute run by Samsung Electronics, published research on high-performing all-solid-state batteries in Nature Energy, a prominent scientific journal.

The institute said on Tuesday that its new battery prototype has the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EV) as it has more energy density and a longer life cycle.

The model developed by the team would power a vehicle up to 800 kilometers (497 miles) on a single charge and be good for over a thousand charges, according to a statement released by Samsung Electronics.

Compared to existing all-solid-state batteries, the new type has a larger capacity and enhanced safety since it uses a silver-carbon composite layer as its anode.

Conventional all-solid-state batteries use lithium metal for the anode, which adds to the safety risk and decreases the life cycle.

The use of the silver-carbon composite also allows for smaller sizing - half the size of typical lithium-ion batteries.

“The product in this study could be seed technology for safer, high-performance batteries of the future,” said Im Dong-min, master at SAIT’s Next Generation Battery Lab and leader of the project.

“Going forward, we will continue to develop and refine all-solid-state battery materials and manufacturing technologies to help take EV battery innovation to the next level,” he said in a statement.

Master is a rank used by the institute for executive-level researchers.

Developments and inventions by the institution are often used by Samsung Electronics or relevant Samsung affiliates.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]