A joint research team from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE) has achieved a major breakthrough in lithium–air battery technology, marking a significant step forward for next-generation energy storage. According to a peer-reviewed publication released by the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), the innovation addresses long-standing challenges in battery efficiency and durability.
Lithium–air batteries are considered a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion systems due to their ultra-high theoretical energy density—potentially up to ten times greater. However, commercialization has been limited by slow oxygen reaction kinetics and insufficient catalytic activity, resulting in reduced lifespan and performance.
The KIST–IAE team tackled this issue by developing a two-dimensional catalyst based on tungsten diselenide (WSe₂). Using atomic-level defect engineering, including platinum substitution and the creation of selenium vacancies, researchers activated the material’s basal plane—previously an inactive region—turning it into an effective catalytic surface. This significantly enhances both the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions essential for battery operation.
As reported by NST, the resulting lithium–air battery demonstrated stable performance for over 550 charge–discharge cycles, even under high-rate conditions. The system also outperformed conventional catalysts such as Pt/C and RuO₂ in durability and efficiency across varying charge rates.
This development introduces a new pathway for maximizing the potential of two-dimensional materials and is expected to accelerate progress in high-performance energy storage applications, including electric vehicles and grid-scale systems.
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