Researchers found a way to improve the stability and conductivity of solid-state electrolytes

Researchers found a way to improve the stability and conductivity of solid-state electrolytes

South Korean researchers have proposed a universal design principle intended to speed up the commercialisation of solid-state batteries. The work was carried out by scientists from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), working alongside teams from Dongguk University, Yonsei University and Chungbuk National University.

The approach is built around a strategy the authors describe as “oxygen anchoring”. The material was doped with tungsten, which helps keep oxygen locked into the electrolyte’s crystal structure, improving its resistance to air exposure. At the same time, the researchers re-engineered the material’s internal structure to widen the “corridors” used by lithium ions as they move through it. As a result, ionic conductivity increased by 2.7 times compared with conventional halide solid-state electrolytes.

Oxygen anchoring for next-generation solid-state electrolytes

The key advantage of the new development is that it is not limited to a single composition. The researchers demonstrated that the method can be applied to electrolytes based on zirconium, indium, yttrium and erbium, delivering similar outcomes. This supports the idea that the work represents a genuinely universal principle that could accelerate the development of new generations of safe, fast-charging batteries.

Potential applications: electric vehicles, robotics and electric aircraft

If the technology can be scaled up, it could bring mass production of solid-state batteries closer for electric vehicles, robotics and electric aircraft.