Battery Engineering Laboratory (BEL) views battery engineering as an integrated discipline that connects theory and fundamental principles with materials synthesis, electrode processing, cell development, and postmortem analysis. Batteries are not merely energy storage devices, but core engineering platforms capable of driving a paradigm shift in how future energy challenges are addressed. By establishing a systematic framework for battery engineering, BEL aims to build a comprehensive library of scientific knowledge, engineering principles, and technological solutions. Ultimately, the laboratory seeks to address critical challenges in battery technology, foster the next generation of battery engineers, and contribute to the advancement of battery science and industry.
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01 | Next-Gen Cathodes for Li-/Na-ion Batteries
Rational design of redox chemistry in Li & Mn-rich cathodes for enhanced capacity and structural stability.
Exploration of high-performance Na-based cathodes to shift the paradigm of conventional battery systems.
Mechanistic probing and understanding of real-time electrochemical dynamics and interparticle heterogeneity.
Mechanistic study of thermal processing and coating/doping process on microstructural evolution of cathode materials.
02 | Li-metal & Anode-free Battery Systems
Mechanistic shift in Li plating and charge transfer pathways on the substrate through solvation regulation.
Electrochemical way to engineer thin Li film and metallic substrate architectures (e.g., Cu, Ni, and alloys).
Real-time, quantitative mapping of large-area uniformity of lithium deposition via operando diagnostic tools.
Design and validation of full-cell lithium metal batteries for electric aviation.
03 | Thick Electrode Processing
Mechanistic design of high-energy, low-resistance electrodes, with a focus on tortuosity and transport limitations in porous electrode architectures.
Mechanistic understanding of slurry processing to correlate dispersion state with conductive network evolution to optimize ion/electron transport and structural uniformity in thick electrode systems.
Advanced dry electrode architectures for all-solid-state batteries enabling high-energy and high-safety performance.
04 | State-of-the-Art Experimental Tools
Quantitative analysis of interfacial electrochemical phenomena and heterogeneity.
Monitoring of internal cell pressure evolution and gas generation.
Development of safety evaluation platforms through quantitative analysis of self-accelerating thermal runaway behavior.
High-throughput and automated experimental frameworks for scalable and reproducible analysis.
Prof. Min-Ho Kim (Email: minhokim@kentech.ac.kr), MK Research Group, Battery Engineering Laboratory (BEL)
Department of Energy Engineering, Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH), 21 Kentech-gil, Research Building 1, Room 303, Naju-si, Jellanam-do 58330, Republic of Korea