Article

A research team at POSTECH has developed a hybrid anode technology that enhances energy storage for electric vehicles while reducing the risk of thermal runaway and explosions. The 'magneto-conversion' strategy, led by Professor Won Bae Kim, utilizes an external magnetic field to regulate lithium-ion transport in ferromagnetic manganese ferrite anodes, effectively suppressing dendrite growth.

This innovation enables a fourfold increase in energy storage capacity compared to conventional graphite anodes, with a Coulombic efficiency above 99% sustained over 300 cycles. The anode's dual mechanism allows lithium to be stored within the oxide matrix and as metallic lithium on the surface, promoting stable charge-discharge cycling without dendrite formation. This technology aims to address critical challenges in lithium-metal batteries, paving the way for improved capacity and cycle life.