News

25-09-23

"ESCML Team Reveals Anharmonic Phonon Dynamics as Key to Solid-State Battery Conductivity!"

국내 연구팀이 고체전해질 속 리튬이온의 움직임과 진동을 정밀하게 추적·제어해 전고체 전지 성능을 크게 향상시킬 수 있는 새로운 방법을 제시했다.
한국연구재단은 강용묵 고려대 신소재공학부 교수 연구팀이 불규칙한 원자 진동인 ‘비조화 포논(anharmonic phonon)’ 산란 제어를 통해 고체전해질의 이온 전도도를 높이는 방법을 규명했다고 밝혔다. 연구 결과는 국제학술지 *Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS)*에 게재됐다.

연구팀은 분광학적 분석과 머신러닝 기반 진동 해석을 통해 원자의 진동 변화를 정밀하게 추적했으며, 탄탈럼(Ta) 도핑이 격자 구조를 느슨하게 하고 비조화 포논을 활성화하여 리튬이온의 협력적 이동을 촉진한다는 사실을 확인했다. 이를 통해 고체전해질 전도도가 크게 향상되어 액체 전해질 수준의 성능을 구현할 수 있음을 입증했다.

강 교수는 “원자의 진동을 제어하는 것이 이온 전도도 향상의 핵심임을 밝혀냈다”며, “첨단 분석법 개발이 진행되면 

차세대 배터리 소재 개발의 기초를 마련할 수 있을 것”이라고 말했다.

- 논문명 : Anharmonic Phonon Scattering Triggering Multi-Ion Migration in Oxide-Based Superionic Conductors

LINK - 동아사이언스

25-07-16

"ESCML member Ayeong Lee Awarded at the 3rd LG Energy Solution Academic-Industry Conference!"

Ayeong Lee, in collaboration with LG Energy Solution, Awarded at the 3rd LG Energy Solution Academic-Industry Conference for Research on
"Effect of Co and Al in single particle co-less NCM".

25-04-22

"Must-have perspective for all ESCML members!" 

Recently, we have engaged in serious reflection and discussion on our rights, responsibilities, and aspirations as members of the lab community.

As a result, we have identified a must-have perspective that we believe is essential for all of us in our research lives. 

This perspective will serve as a core principle and indispensable value throughout our journey in the lab. 

25-02-20

"Our recent study, which elucidates oxygen redox reactions in Ni-rich NCM cathodes, is featured in Berkeley Lab's Science Briefs!" 

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more widespread, the demand for lithium-ion batteries with higher capacity, longer lifespan, and improved safety continues to grow. However, a critical challenge lies in the instability of oxide-based cathodes when charged to high voltages. Among them, LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (NCM) is widely used in commercial EV batteries due to its high energy density, yet it suffers from structural degradation over time.  

A recent study published in Energy & Environmental Science explores this issue by investigating the effects of aluminum doping on NCM stability. Researchers compared NCM materials from LG Energy Solution, analyzing how aluminum influences oxygen redox reactions, a key factor in improving energy density but often linked to material degradation. 

Using soft X-ray resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source (ALS) and operando electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS) at UC Berkeley, the team tracked oxygen activity in the cathode. Surprisingly, aluminum-doped NCM exhibited higher oxygen redox activity but lower oxygen loss, challenging the conventional belief that stronger oxidation leads to increased instability. Neutron diffraction experiments further revealed how managing oxygen reactions could prevent irreversible structural changes. 

By clarifying the role of oxygen redox in high-voltage cycling, this research provides valuable insights into stabilizing commercial NCM cathodes-bringing the industry one step closer to next-generation, high-energy-density batteries. 

LINK

25-02-25

   "ESCML members Suwon Lee, JaeBeum Kim, Seonyong Cho have received the BK21 Outstanding Paper Award!"

Suwon Lee, as a participating graduate students in the BK21 program, received the Best Paper Award in recognition of his contribution as the first author published in 2024, in one of the most impactful journals including Nature, Science, Cell, or a Nature Research Journals. 

JaeBeum Kim and Seonyong Cho, as a participating graduate students in the BK21 program, received the Excellent Paper Award in recognition of his contribution as the first author published in 2024, in the in the journals with an Impact Factor above 20.