Overview

• The Frontier Research Laboratory collaboration between KAIST and LG Energy Solution produced the advance following four years of joint work.
• The researchers identify uneven interfacial cohesion on lithium metal as the root cause of dendrite formation during fast charging.
• The new electrolyte uses an anion with weak binding to Li+ to minimize interface non-uniformity and promote smooth lithium deposition.
• Lab results reported by the team indicate about 800 kilometers of range, roughly 12 minutes to recharge, and a projected lifespan beyond 300,000 kilometers.
• The study, led by first author Hyeokjin Kwon, was published on September 3 in Nature Energy with DOI 10.1038/s41560-025-01838-1.