LG Energy Solution has developed a high-capacity battery using sulfur material. LG Energy Solution said on Wednesday it succeeded in implementing a high-capacity battery using sulfur as a cathode material by applying all-solid-state battery technology. The research was conducted jointly with a team led by Professor Shirley Meng (셜리 멍) at the University of Chicago, and the results were published on Feb. 27 in the international journal Nature Communications.

Sulfur material has been considered a candidate for next-generation cathode materials because it can theoretically deliver a high capacity of 1,675 mAh/g and is inexpensive. But in a liquid electrolyte environment, a "polysulfide dissolution" phenomenon occurs during charging and discharging, in which sulfur compounds leach into the electrolyte, making it difficult to secure lifespan and stability. This has limited commercialisation.

The joint research team introduced an all-solid-state battery structure that applies a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte. By fundamentally blocking the environment in which dissolution occurs, it secured a capacity of about 1,500 mAh/g and stable lifespan performance. The performance was implemented not only in coin cells but also in pouch-type cells.

The outcome is the result of research at the FRL, jointly operated by LG Energy Solution with UC San Diego and the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. Professor Meng, who led the research, is set to attend as a speaker at the InterBattery 2026 "The Battery Conference" and present on the development direction of all-solid-state batteries and next-generation battery technologies.

An LG Energy Solution official said, "It is significant in that applying a sulfur cathode confirmed the potential to expand energy capacity to a level higher than existing lithium-ion batteries." The official said, "Based on cooperation between industry and academia, we will continue to expand next-generation battery technologies by securing safety, energy density and cost competitiveness at the same time."