LG Energy Solution, in collaboration with Seoul National University, has made significant strides in enhancing lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Research published in Nature Communications reveals that modifying the voltage protocol can effectively suppress gas evolution—a major obstacle for LMR cells in large EV formats.
Key Findings:
- High Energy Density: LMR cathodes utilize manganese as a lower-cost substitute for cobalt, combining both transition-metal and oxygen activity to achieve greater energy density.
- Gas Evolution Challenge: During discharge, incomplete oxygen recovery generates gas, increasing internal pressure and limiting the practical application of LMR cells in EVs.
- Voltage Adjustments: Lowering the upper charge voltage from 4.6 V to 4.3 V improved oxygen recovery from 86% to 97%. Additionally, reducing the discharge cutoff from 3.0 V to 2.0 V allowed near-complete oxygen restoration.
Performance Metrics:
- Implementing these voltage changes in 40 Ah-class large-format cells resulted in a remarkable 92.2% energy retention after 883 cycles, even with a lower-temperature formation process.
Professor Jongwoo Lim commented on the study’s implications, stating that the research identified degradation causes in LMR batteries related to oxygen reversibility. It shows that improving cell stability can be achieved merely through careful electrochemical protocol design, emphasizing the importance of both charging and discharging conditions for long-term reliability.
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