Research

– Polymer Innovation for Next Generation Batteries

As the pace of climate change accelerates, the significance of electrochemical energy storage devices grows substantially, with polymeric materials emerging as pivotal components within these systems. The growing demand for high-energy-density devices highlights the need for innovative materials that are based on a fundamental understanding of electro-chemo-mechanics and structure-property relationships. Our research group aims to develop new functional polymers in electrochemical applications based on various polymer designs,  characterization, and advanced processing.

To achieve high-energy-density all-solid-state batteries, it is crucial to have a fundamental understanding of solid-state electrolytes and to make thin solid-state electrolytes. Our research is concentrated on investigating how to make stable interfaces between battery components and all-solid electrolytes and discovering practical methods to fabricate thin electrolyte separators using functional polymers.


Unlike the polymer binders (PVDF, rubbers) introduced in previous studies, binders for next-generation batteries must perform a variety of roles. Our team is developing new functional polymers having electrochemically activity, improved conductivity, and environmentally friendly properties, and applying them to next-generation electrodes (S, Se, Si, fluorides, etc.)

The anode-free system is a next-generation high-energy-density battery system that has no anode materials and only a thin current collector. However, the unstable interfaces and low coulombic efficiency during the initial formation of anodes hinder the practical application of this system. We are developing new artificial interfaces using functional polymers to ensure a stable interface and maximize anode utilization.


The design of a new battery architecture can solve the problems of the existing battery and improve the usability from the manufacturing process to the disposal of the battery. Our team is designing a new battery architecture in which various components are integrated using functional polymers.