All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are called as ‘dream batteries. Unlike lithium-ion batteries that use liquid electrolyte, ASSBs use solid electrolyte and have lower risk of fire or explosion and higher energy density and can be used longer with single charge. The global electric vehicle market is expected go through a huge change once ASSBs are commercialized as they will be able to immediately solve any safety or mileage issue that electric vehicles (EVs) currently carry. This is the reason why ASSBs are seen as the ‘game changer’ that will change the current battery industry. South Korea’s battery industry has also been conducting R&D on ASSBs. At ‘Battery Day 2021’ that will be held by the Electronic Times on April 28, institutions and companies that are actually working on ASSBs will talk about latest trends in ASSB technology.
Cho Woo-seok, who holds a doctoral degree and working at the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI) that is a top electronics and IT research institute, will talk about global trends related to ASSBs and key challenges facing commercialization of ASSBs. Cho is an expert who is responsible for development of ASSBs at the KETI’s Next-Generation Battery Center. He played a crucial role when the institute signed a contract with a South Korean battery equipment manufacturer called CIS regarding transfer of ASSBs-related material technology.
Cho will introduce ASSBs that use sulfide-based electrolyte. These ASSBs are able to compress particles densely through sulfide’s high ion conductivity and malleability and are reportedly perfect as large batteries with high capacity.
However, these batteries cause hydrogen sulfide gas as they easily react with moisture when they are exposed to atmosphere and lowers battery performance and causes difficulty in manufacturing. The KETI has developed a technology that reduces amount of hydrogen sulfide gas by quarter through a specific design.
Along with detailed explanation about ASSBs that use sulfide-based electrolyte, Cho plans to explain about possible obstacles and tasks that need to be solved before such ASSBs are commercialized.

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Oh In-cheol, who is the head of Isu Chemical’s R&D department, will talk about ‘raw materials for sulfide-based solid electrolyte’.
Isu Chemical is currently conducting studies for commercialization of raw materials for solid electrolytes. This is the first time that the company, which specializes in petrochemistry, is working on a battery materials business, and it is preparing commercialization of lithium sulfide (Li2S) that is a main ingredient of solid electrolytes based on its experience and ability handling hydrogen sulfide. ‘Battery Day 2021’ will be the first outside event that the company will be introducing its battery materials technology.
Although Li2S is seen as a main ingredient of sulfide-based solid electrolyte, it is expensive and needs a certain cycle to be implemented during charge and discharge. Isu Chemical will talk about technologies related to mass-production and reduction of production cost of Li2S at the event.
Jung Hyuk, who is the head of COSMO AM&T’s Battery Materials Laboratory, will talk about ‘single crystalline cathode material’ that is seen as another key element of ASSBs. COSMO AM&T, a top South Korean cathode materials manufacturer, is one of few South Korean companies that has succeeded in localizing raw materials of precursors which will be used to make high-nickel cathode materials. The company is speeding up development of single crystalline cathode materials while working with Samsung SDI and the KETI in order to commercialize the materials next year.
Single crystalline cathode material is made up of single particle in order to strengthen durability that is the biggest weakness of polycrystalline cathode materials. COSMO AM&T’s goal is to materialize high-purity cathode materials and push forward commercialization of ASSBs by internalizing raw materials of precursors. Jung, who is in charge of development of cathode materials at the company, will talk about single crystalline cathode material and high-nickel cathode material technologies in detail.
Pre-registration for ‘Battery Day 2021’ can be done through the event’s homepage (www.sek.co.kr/2021/battery) until April 27.
Staff Reporter Yun, Geonil | benyun@etnews.com & Staff Reporter Kim, Jiwoong | jw0316@etnews.com