SK On Accelerates Next-Gen Battery Race with Breakthroughs in Solid-State Technology

SK On is stepping up its efforts to lead next-generation battery innovation, publishing consecutive research breakthroughs on solid-state batteries—often referred to as the "dream battery"—in prestigious international academic journals. The company aims to secure technological leadership through academic collaboration and scientific advancement.

On the 6th, SK On announced that it had successfully improved the lifespan of sulfide-based solid-state batteries in joint research with Professor Kim Dong-won’s team at Hanyang University. The research focused on enhancing battery safety and longevity by forming a protective layer on the surface of lithium metal anodes.

This study was published in the April edition of ACS Energy Letters, a globally recognized journal in the energy and chemistry fields. Both domestic and international patent applications for the technology have been filed.

Lithium metal, a promising next-generation anode material for solid-state batteries, offers nearly 10 times the capacity of conventional graphite and boasts a lower electrochemical potential, making it key to achieving higher energy density and output.

However, lithium metal is highly reactive in air, causing irregular inorganic deposits on its surface. These deposits hinder lithium-ion mobility, reduce charging/discharging efficiency, and trigger dendrite formation, which shortens battery lifespan.

To tackle these issues, SK On immersed lithium metal anodes in a special solution to remove the inorganic compounds and formed a protective layer composed of highly conductive lithium nitride (Li₃N) and mechanically robust lithium oxide (Li₂O). This significantly improved interfacial stability, allowing more than 300 charge-discharge cycles at room temperature—tripling the lifespan compared to existing metal-anode batteries.

In a separate study, SK On collaborated with Professor Park Jong-hyuk’s team at Yonsei University to investigate the relationship between gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) curing time and battery lifespan in polymer-oxide composite batteries. The research was published in Angewandte Chemie, a leading international chemistry journal, in February.

The study found that longer thermal curing times for GPEs led to better battery performance retention. Batteries using electrolytes cured for 60 minutes showed only a 9.1% reduction in discharge capacity, while those cured for just 20 minutes exhibited a drop of approximately 34%. Shorter curing times resulted in rapid degradation of the cathode protection layer, thereby reducing battery life.

In this research, SK On used density functional theory (DFT) quantum mechanical calculations to identify how and why the cathode’s surface protection layer deteriorates during the initial charging phase—providing new insight into the mechanisms behind performance loss.

Park Ki-soo, head of R&D at SK On, stated, “These results are the fruits of SK On’s persistent R&D efforts and technological strength, realized through collaboration with academia. They lay a crucial foundation for overcoming technical challenges in solid-state battery development—seen as the next big thing in the battery industry.”

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