Overview
- LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University published a peer-reviewed Nature Communications paper on Monday, September 7, 2026, reporting operational protocols that cut gas generation and improved large-format LMR cell stability.
- Lowering the upper charge cutoff from 4.6 V to 4.3 V raised the fraction of oxidized oxygen that is reduced on discharge from about 86% to about 97%, which limits irreversible oxygen loss.
- Reducing the discharge cutoff to 2.0 V and using a lower-temperature formation process helped restore oxidized oxygen nearly fully and suppressed gas build-up inside 40 Ah cells.
- Applied to 40 Ah-class large-format cells, the optimized protocol produced 92.2% energy retention after 883 charge-discharge cycles, showing cycle life that addresses a key barrier to EV use.
- Wider commercialization still requires safety testing, OEM qualification and manufacturing adaptation, but successful scale-up could cut cobalt use by substituting manganese and lower battery material costs.