KAIST Pinpoints Nanoscale Cause of Lithium Battery Performance Degradation

A KAIST research team led by Professor Hong Seung-bum has identified the degradation mechanism of lithium metal batteries at the nanoscale, revealing the fundamental cause of their performance decline.

Lithium metal batteries have garnered attention as next-generation batteries due to their high energy density. However, they have faced commercialization challenges stemming from performance degradation issues during repeated charging and discharging cycles.

The research team utilized in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (in situ EC-AFM) to track the lithium plating and stripping processes at the nanoscale. This process demonstrated that lithium reactions do not occur uniformly across the surface but selectively at specific locations, proving that surface morphology critically influences battery lifespan.

The research findings were published as a cover story in 'ACS Energy Letters'. Professor Hong Seung-bum commented, "This will serve as a crucial foundation for the development of longer-lasting and safer next-generation batteries."