Output characteristics improved by more than 16%p compared to conventional single-crystal particles even during fast charging
Single-crystal clusters supplied to Kumyang as 4695 size cylindrical battery material

SM Lab (CEO Jae-pil Cho) has succeeded in the world's first mass production of a 'single-crystal cluster' that improves output characteristics by more than 16%p compared to current single-crystal cathode materials, which are difficult to fully charge to the theoretical capacity of the battery during fast charging.

SM Lab, a UNIST faculty startup, announced on the 27th that it has succeeded in mass-producing a 'single crystal cluster,' a high-capacity battery cathode material that can be used for fast charging.

In the high-energy density 46-series cylindrical batteries, which battery manufacturers have recently been competing fiercely to develop, only single-crystal cathode materials can achieve the desired cell capacity.

The 4-5 micrometer (μm) single-crystal cathode materials currently in use have poor output characteristics, making it difficult to fully charge the battery to its theoretical capacity during fast charging.

SM Lab has developed a single-crystal 'cluster' cathode material that improves output characteristics while maintaining the excellent durability of existing single-crystal cathode materials.

A technique was used to synthesize multiple 2μm single-crystal particles and simultaneously bond them firmly with an additive.

As a result of applying the cathode material produced with this technology to battery cells, charging Even when the time was reduced from 60 minutes to 15 minutes, it was charged to over 86% of the theoretical capacity.

On the other hand, general single-crystal materials showed a cell capacity retention rate of 70%.

In addition, it exhibited excellent physical properties, like a single crystal grain, even during the high-temperature rolling process, and did not break easily.

SM Lab has completed mass production verification of this material and is currently supplying it to Kumyang Co., Ltd. as a 4695 size cylindrical battery material.

SM Lab announced that it has been certified by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy as a company possessing National Advanced Strategic Technology due to this technology.

CEO Jo Jae-pil stated, “We believe that the certification of possessing National Advanced Strategic Technology has secured a significant driving force for strengthening the company’s technology development capabilities and expanding our business.” He added, “As the government has designated this as a major next-generation technology, we plan to manage key personnel and technology security capabilities to the highest level through cooperation with relevant agencies to prevent technology leakage abroad.”

National advanced strategic technologies were specified into 17 technologies, including three secondary battery technologies, pursuant to the 'Special Measures Act on Strengthening and Protecting the Competitiveness of National Advanced Strategic Industries' (hereinafter the National Advanced Strategic Industries Act) enacted in 2022, and refer to technologies developed for the purpose of mass production or used in mass production.

SM Lab is expected to accelerate its business expansion as construction of its third factory (30,000 tons/year) is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2024, following its first and second factories (annual production capacity of 10,800 tons).

Meanwhile, SM Lab is a company founded in 2018 by Professor Jae-Pil Cho of the Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, a world-renowned scholar in the battery field. It received Series D investment (130 billion won) last October, bringing its total accumulated investment raised to 239 billion won, and is preparing for a listing on KOSDAQ within the year.

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