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On May 15th, at LG Science Park in Seoul’s Magok district, where LG Energy Solution’s “Next-Generation Battery Research Center” is located, media from both domestic and international outlets entered the facility for the first time, having signed non-disclosure agreements. Inside the all-solid-state battery development department responsible for developing the “dream battery,” narrow corridors led to various laboratories. The laboratories were equipped with transparent glass windows, providing a glimpse of the interior. In one laboratory, a researcher dressed in a full-body white protective suit was seen weighing black powder on a scale. Son Gwon-nam, the head of LG Energy Solution’s Next-Generation Battery Research Center, explained that the process involved weighing a mixture of materials such as active substances, conductive agents, and binders for the electrodes of solid-state batteries. In another lab, there was a large mixer that resembled the kind used in mills. “The battery manufacturing process is similar to making rice cakes in that the key ingredients are mixed together to form a slurry (dough),” said Son. “In particular, in all-solid-state batteries, the electrolyte is solid, so pressure must be applied from all sides, like squeezing sesame oil, to increase the ionic conductivity.” He further mentioned that solid-state batteries are expected to become mainstream within a few years, with LG playing a central role in their development.
LG Energy Solution is a world-class battery company with a remarkable track record. Since starting secondary battery development in 1992, they have accumulated over 27,000 battery-related patents in their 31 years of operation. Thanks to this, Korea has uncommonly held the “patent” rights and led the industry in secondary batteries.
The global industrial ecosystem is now entering a massive storm. Countries like China and India, which were content with being “big markets,” have transformed into formidable technological competitors. The new phenomenon of a Cold War-like conflict between the United States and China, coupled with the rapid reorganization of global supply chains, is reshaping the landscape. The United States, the EU, and Japan are engaging in an endless competition, pouring substantial subsidies while calling for a “return to manufacturing.” Following the enactment of the semiconductor law and the Implementation of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the US has attracted ￦270 trillion in manufacturing investments. Similarly, the EU has introduced the European Semiconductor Act, with an investment of ￦62 trillion (US$1=￦1323).
In the midst of these circumstances, the South Korean economy is grappling with concerns of low birth rates, an aging population, and entering a period of low growth, seeking to find a new path forward in the face of these challenges. The magazine embarked on a journey to discover the industrial landscape of the “new engine” that will bear the responsibility of our future amidst the complex crises of the South Korean economy, yearning hope for our economy in these sites, many of which are open to the public for the first time. For this series, the magazine reached out to 100 of the country’s top scientific scholars at the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, who were asked to diagnose Korea’s industrial competitiveness. According to these scholars, key industries such as semiconductors, petrochemicals, and secondary batteries are lagging behind in the pursuit by countries like China, Taiwan, and Japan. In emerging fields like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, which hold promise for the future, Korea also falls behind. One scholar remarked, “Koreans working like grasshoppers will never be able to surpass the Chinese. Chinese people work with an all-or-nothing attitude, combining imitation with creativity, which is what they have been trained and habituated to do so from a young age.”
The newspaper commences its series by delving into the world of solid-state batteries and plans to reveal other cutting-edge industries such as eco-friendly ships, autonomous driving, plastic recycling, and small modular reactors (SMRs). The series aims to diagnose the country’s international competitiveness in these fields.
Battery Market Worth 815 Trillion, Larger Than Semiconductors... LG, Samsung, SK, and Hyundai Motor Join Forces
◇ Working in a Vacuum-Dry Experiment Lab with Rubber Gloves
In its first-ever public reveal of the solid-state battery development site, LG requested the journalist to undergo “security education” and sign a “security agreement” first. After passing through security checkpoints, access was finally granted to the third-floor all-solid-state battery development area.
Next to the entrance of another laboratory on the third floor dedicated to solid-state batteries, the sign read “Dew Point” with a temperature of -44.8°C. This indicates an extremely dry condition, almost devoid of moisture. LG explained that their in-development “sulfide-based all-solid-state battery” is susceptible to moisture, hence the experimentation takes place in such a “dry room.” Researchers had their hands inside the box with the gloves on, mixing the ingredients for the solid-state battery. The environment is free from moisture and dust infiltration. Researcher Kim Na-yoon mentioned, “Although wearing gloves can be quite uncomfortable, it’s satisfying to tackle problems and make progress on a monthly basis.”
◇ Samsung SDI Also Establishes All-Solid-State Battery Pilot “S-line”
In the next-generation battery industry, Korea’s strengths lie in its “Big Three” players with global competitiveness: LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK-on. Additionally, Hyundai Motor Group, the largest battery demand contributor, is also directly engaging in battery development.
Samsung SDI is researching sulfide-based solid-state batteries, a “mega trend” in the field. Among the Korean companies, Samsung SDI has set the most ambitious goal for solid-state batteries. In late March, they established the first pilot factory for solid-state batteries named “S-line” at their Suwon Research Center and succeeded in producing samples in June. Samsung has also developed the world’s first “anodeless technology,” creating batteries with only cathodes without anodes, effectively preventing the formation of dendrites, abnormal growths on the metal surface that can cause battery fires and reduce lifespan. Park Kyu-seong, Head of SDI’s Next-Generation Development Team, stated, “Our goal is to lead in core technologies in materials, cells, and processes, and to start mass production by 2027,” aligning with the timeline set by Toyota for mass production of solid-state batteries around 2027-2028.
SK-on is accelerating its solid-state battery development, aiming to complete a pilot line in the first half of next year and commence mass production by 2028. To support this endeavor, they invested ￦470 billion in April to its battery research and development center in Daejeon. In pursuit of technological advancements, SK Innovation is collaborating not only with overseas professors like Professor Seung-woo Lee of Georgia Tech, who developed a rubber-like solid electrolyte, but also with startups, such as Solid Power, a solid-state battery startup that is highly regarded in the United States.
Hyundai Motor is also intensifying efforts to secure its own battery technologies. Towards the end of 2021, they established the ”Battery Development Center” under their Namyang Research Institute, focusing on battery systems, cell design, and researching solid-state batteries as well. In June, during the announcement of their electric vehicle strategy, ‘Hyundai Motorway,’ they stated their commitment to investing ￦9.5 trillion over 10 years for battery performance enhancement and the development of advanced battery technologies.
SNE Research, a battery-specific research firm, predicts that the global electric vehicle battery market will reach ￦815 trillion by 2035. Considering that the semiconductor market was valued at ￦630 trillion last year (approximately $480 billion according to data from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics), it signifies the emergence of “second semiconductor” market.
☞All-solid-state Batteries
Known as the “dream battery,” it can achieve a driving range of over 1000 km with a small capacity. The current mainstream lithium-ion batteries, which are in widespread use, utilize liquid electrolytes, making them susceptible to chemical reactions, fires, and reduced lifespan when subjected to shock or heat. In contrast, solid-state batteries utilize solid electrolytes, making them less prone to catching fire even when deformed.
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