The Korea Automotive Research Institute has transferred electrode technology to a domestic company that reduces the commercialization challenges of LMFP and sodium batteries, which are being discussed as next-generation mass-market batteries.

The Korea Automotive Research Institute announced on the 27th that it has transferred two electrode technologies related to lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) and sodium batteries to JR Energy Solution, a company specializing in battery electrodes.

LMFP is a cathode material that increases energy density by adding manganese to existing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. However, there was a problem where manganese dissolved into the electrolyte during the charging and discharging process, reducing battery life and storage performance.

Hanjayeon suppressed manganese leaching in high-temperature environments by applying a special aqueous binder that adsorbs manganese cations. The researchers explained that this improved battery life and storage performance by more than 15% compared to existing models.

Sodium batteries are considered a candidate for low-cost batteries because they can reduce the burden of raw materials compared to lithium batteries, but the problem of initial capacity loss during the manufacturing process has been pointed out as a limitation to commercialization. Hanjayeon stated that by forming a sacrificial anode coating layer on top of the anode layer, they reduced irreversible capacity loss and increased energy density by more than 20%.

The transferred technology is highlighted for its applicability in production sites, as it can be integrated into existing electrode manufacturing processes. By enabling improvements in battery characteristics without requiring separate equipment investment or significant cost increases, it can reduce the burden of commercialization for small and medium-sized electrode companies.

However, verifying long-term reliability and securing cost competitiveness remain challenges in the actual mass production phase. This technology transfer is significant in that it enables domestic electrode companies to secure the technological foundation to respond to the next-generation mass-market battery sector.