KAIST Research Team Proposes New Lithium Deposition Method for Anode-Free Batteries

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced that a joint research team led by Professor Jinwoo Lee and Professor Hee-Tae Jung from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has found a way to address the shortcomings of "anode-free batteries." Researchers from Kyungpook National University and the Korea National Nanofab Center also participated in the project. Anode-free batteries eliminate traditional anode materials such as graphite, allowing lithium to deposit directly onto a thin copper foil to reduce battery volume and weight. During repeated charge-discharge cycles, lithium aggregates into dendritic or needle-like "dendrite" structures, causing battery performance degradation. Previous methods of supplementing extra lithium or covering the electrode surface with thicker protective coatings increased battery thickness and weight. The researchers drew on precision manufacturing techniques from the semiconductor industry to enable more uniform lithium deposition while promoting the formation of a protective layer.