The research team of Professor Kim Jae-kuk (School of Material Science and Engineering) has succeeded in synthesizing manganese disulfide, which has been notoriously difficult regarding its synthesis condition, by hydrothermal synthesis, and showed that it can be used for the lithium/sodium-based secondary battery by applying it to an ether-based electrolyte.

In addition, using various cutting-edge analytical methods, the team succeeded in identifying the reaction mechanism of manganese disulfide, which is different from other sulfide-based anode materials, and the formation of a protective film by an ether-based electrolyte.

The research team of Professor Kim by far showed for the first time that manganese disulfide can be applied as a negative electrode material for lithium/sodium-based secondary batteries and identified a reversible and unique reaction mechanism, proving the potential and viability of this anode material for the future. In addition, by using an ether-based electrolyte that can form a protective film on the electrode surface without any loss of lithium/sodium inside the battery during charging and discharging, it has been proven possible to prevent the transition metal dissolution phenomenon, which is a chronic problem of sulfides. This ultimately improves battery stability, durability, and energy density. These results have been demonstrated through in-depth, state-of-the-art analytical techniques that improve the confidence in the study and its consequent future possibilities.

The results of this research were published in the October issue of the Advanced Energy Materials (Impact factor: 24.884), an international journal of energy-related field published by Wiley (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.).